GUJARAT BRIDGE TRAGEDY – 5 Engineers Suspended as Death Toll Rises to 17.
Vadodara bridge collapse kills 17 as Gujarat CM suspends 5 engineers and orders inspection of other bridges.
Tragedy on the River: A Morning That Changed Lives
It was a quiet morning in Vadodara when a part of the old Gambhira bridge suddenly fell into the Mahisagar River. Several people were crossing in vehicles when the bridge collapsed and dragged them down into the fast flowing water.The bridge linked Anand and Vadodara and was nearly 40 years-old. The death toll is now 17 and three more people remain missing in the disaster. The shocking incident alarmed everyone and forced the Gujarat government to act soon and act hard.
Immediate Action from the Government
A proactive Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel immediately announced a probe while ordering a statewide audit of all such bridges. A crew of mechanics is sent to investigate the repair and safety issues.They gave a report that blamed five engineers for carelessness in inspection and quality checks.
So the government suspended all five engineers right away. The names of the suspended officials are Executive Engineer NM Naikwala, Deputy Executive Engineers UC Patel and RT Patel and Assistant Engineer JV Shah. The suspension is not just a punishment but a message to show that neglect will not be ignored.
Orders for Statewide Bridge Inspections
After this serious event the Chief Minister also ordered inspections of other old and risky bridges in the state. These checks will help find weak spots and avoid future accidents.Hundreds of people had used the Gambhira bridge daily. A mini truck and a car were passing when bridge collapsed and both fell into the river on the day of the tragedy.
Search and Rescue Operations Continue
Rescue teams from the NDRF and SDRF have been working in the river to find missing people and pull out vehicles. According to Vadodara Collector Anil Dhamelia seventeen bodies have been recovered so far.
Some vehicles are stuck deep in the muddy riverbed and rain is making the rescue work harder. The teams are now building a small temporary bridge to reach the sunken vehicles and continue the search operation.
Locals in Shock Families Await Answers
People living nearby are still in shock and many families are waiting to hear about their loved ones. They want answers and are asking why such an old bridge was still in use without proper checks.This tragedy has shown that old public structures need better care and timely repairs. Gujarat has now lost seventeen lives in the Vadodara bridge collapse and everyone hopes that strong steps will be taken to stop such events in the future.
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