At least nine people died on Wednesday after a bridge collapsed over a river in the western Indian state of Gujarat, according to the Press Trust of India, citing police sources.
Gujarat’s Health Minister, Rushikesh Patel, stated that several vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the collapse, causing many occupants to fall into the river. At least five people were rescued, he added.
The incident occurred in the Vadodara district, an area recently hit by heavy rainfall. According to Patel, the bridge was built in 1985.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his “deep sorrow” over the tragedy and offered condolences to the victims’ families.
The disaster highlights ongoing concerns over infrastructure safety in India, where bridge collapses and major road accidents are not uncommon. In 2022, at least 132 people died when a century-old suspension bridge collapsed over a river in the same state, sending hundreds into the water.
