Vadodara bridge accident: Death toll rises to 15, three still missing, mud becoming a challenge in rescue operations
So far, 15 people have been confirmed dead in the accident that took place on tuesday in the vadodara district of Gujarat. Let us tell you that on wednesday, the Gambhira bridge on the Mahisagar river connecting vadodara and the Anand district suddenly collapsed.
So far, 15 bodies have been recovered from the Mahisagar river after the bridge connecting vadodara and anand in gujarat collapsed. Two of these bodies were taken out of the river on Thursday. While 13 bodies were taken out on wednesday itself. Many members of the same family have lost their lives in this accident. Now the death toll in this accident has gone up to 15.
Vadodara collector Anil Dhamelia said that at least three people are still missing. He said that NDRF and SDRF teams are searching for the bodies of survivors or victims in the river. Dhamelia said, NDRF and SDRF teams are conducting search operations up to 4 km downstream in the river. As per the list available with us, 15 bodies have been recovered so far, while three people are still missing. People can call our control room to inform us about other missing people.
He said that there could be more people apart from the three missing people who have been identified, as no specific information is available about the people in a car and a mini truck that fell into the river and got stuck in three meters of mud. The district Magistrate said that rain and a thick layer of mud in the river are making the rescue operation challenging, as no machine is working in such a situation. A special bridge is being constructed on the bank to reach the vehicles submerged in the middle of the river.
Let us tell you that on wednesday, a 10 to 15 meter slab of the Gambhira bridge connecting Central gujarat to the Saurashtra region on the Mahisagar river collapsed. Six vehicles, including two trucks, two vans, an autorickshaw, and a bike, fell into the river. Two other vehicles were about to fall too when they were pulled out. Three people on the bike swam out on their own.
Among the victims of the bridge accident are Sonalben's Ramesh Padhiyar (38), daughter Vedika (4), and son Naitik (2). Sonalben, a resident of Mujpur village in Vadodara's Padra taluka, said that after reaching the riverbank, she sought help for about an hour but to no avail. Mujpur is very close to the bridge on the Mahisagar riverbank.
"We were going to Bagdana in bhavnagar to offer prayers. There were seven passengers in our van. We left at 6.30 am and reached the bridge around 7 am. While we were crossing it, a portion collapsed, causing several vehicles to fall into the river," she told reporters. She further said in a distraught state that I was sitting in the rear of the van, so somehow I came out, but my husband and children were trapped. A truck fell directly on our vehicle, as a result of which everyone got trapped in it. The water was also deep. I kept shouting for help for about an hour, but no one came forward.
Gujarat minister Rishikesh patel said that the bridge was constructed in 1985. It was maintained from time to time. He said the exact reason behind the incident will be investigated. In the pictures, the entire slab of the bridge is seen collapsing between two pillars. Due to the collapse of the slab, the vehicles passing over it fell into the river. The Gambhira bridge, about 900 meters long, has 23 pillars and connects Vadodara and anand districts of Gujarat.
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