Vadodara, one of the major cities in Gujarat, recently witnessed a tragic accident that shocked the nation. The four-decade-old Gambhira bridge collapsed on July 9, resulting in the deaths of 20 people. In response, the Gujarat government has decided to construct a parallel bridge, with an aim to complete the project within the next 18 months.
Fatal Gambhira Bridge Collapse
The famous Gambhira bridge in Gujarat’s Vadodara was built in 1985. For decades, it served as a crucial link between central Gujarat and the Saurashtra region, connecting Anand to the Vadodara district. A few days back, the bridge collapsed, causing many vehicles to plunge into the Mahisagar River below. The collapse caused six vehicles, including two vans, two trucks, a two-wheeler, and an autorickshaw, to fall into the river, while some were left hanging dangerously close to the broken edges.
Some people managed to survive by swimming out of the river, while rescue teams saved many others. They were immediately rushed for medical assistance. As per the latest update, the death toll in the incident has risen to 20, with one person still missing. For the rescue operation, personnel from the fire department and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) reached the site and began rescuing people using boats and swimmers.
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Construction Of New Parallel Bridge
According to a report by The New Indian Express, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has granted approval to the Roads and Buildings department for the construction of a new bridge near Mujpur. The government has decided on the complete construction of the new bridge within 18 months. The total sanctioned budget for this new bridge, parallel to Gambhira, in Vadodara is ₹212 crore.
The Mujpur road, which currently has two lanes, will be expanded to four lanes and will be seven metres wide. The 4.2 km stretch from the highway to the bridge will also be expanded and will have four lanes, as part of the project.
Compensation To Victims
The state government has provided ₹64 lakh as financial support to the victims of the Gambhir collapse in Vadodara. As per The Hindu, ₹4 lakh was given to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 each to the injured people.
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The construction of a new and better bridge will be beneficial to both adults and students, making their travel safer. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Cover Image Courtesy: X/ Srinivasa Reddy Reddeppagari