Gujarat Bridge Collapse: Chief Minister Orders Investigation and Suspends Engineers

Investigation Launched Following Bridge Collapse

On Wednesday, following the collapse of the Mujpur-Gambhira bridge connecting Vadodara and Anand, Gujarat's Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has mandated a thorough and high-level investigation into the incident. As a result of the preliminary inquiry, four engineers have been suspended. The suspended officials include Executive Engineer N.M. Naikwala, Sub-Executive Engineers U.C. Patel and R.T. Patel, and Assistant Engineer J.V. Shah.

Details of the Incident and Response

According to the Gujarat government's information department, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has instructed a comprehensive investigation into the accident involving the Mujpur-Gambhira bridge. He has tasked a team of experts with preparing a report on the repairs, inspections, and quality checks conducted on the collapsed bridge. Following their site visit, the team identified the officials responsible for the accident, leading to the immediate suspension of N.M. Naikwala, U.C. Patel, R.T. Patel, and J.V. Shah.

Safety Inspections Ordered for Other Bridges

In light of the bridge collapse, the Chief Minister has also ordered immediate and thorough inspections of other bridges in the state to ensure public safety. The death toll from the incident, which occurred when a section of the four-decade-old bridge collapsed near Gambhira village close to the town of Padra, has risen to 16, with ongoing searches for three to four missing individuals.

Ongoing Search and Rescue Operations

Vadodara's Superintendent of Police, Rohan Anand, reported that 16 bodies have been recovered so far, while three to four individuals remain unaccounted for. He stated, 'The search and rescue operations are still ongoing.' According to Vadodara's District Collector Anil Dhameliya, at least three people are still missing, and teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are actively searching the river for survivors or bodies.