In a tragic incident that has shaken central Gujarat, a section of the Gambhira bridge on the Mahisagar river collapsed early Wednesday morning, sending four vehicles plunging into the waters below. The collapse, which occurred around 7:30 am near Mujpur village on the Padra-Borsad state highway, has claimed at least three lives so far, while multiple others are feared trapped.

According to preliminary reports, the vehicles involved included two heavy trucks and two jeeps. One of the jeeps was a Bolero, commonly used for passenger transport in rural Gujarat. Eyewitnesses said the bridge crumbled without warning as the vehicles were crossing, with debris and vehicles plunging into the fast-flowing river.

Local villagers were the first to respond, rushing into the river to assist the victims before official help arrived. Emergency teams later joined, including personnel from the district administration, Padra police, and disaster response units. Four people have been rescued alive so far, but the operation remains in full swing to locate those still missing.

Rescue divers have been deployed to scan the submerged section of the bridge, while cranes and ropes are being used to extract the damaged vehicles. Meanwhile, the bodies of three victims have been recovered, with identification underway.

Residents of Mujpur and nearby areas have expressed anger and grief over the incident, alleging criminal negligence by local authorities. Many claim that the bridge had shown visible signs of structural damage for years. Cracks, rusted supports, and frequent vibrations were reportedly ignored despite repeated complaints.

“The Gambhira bridge was a ticking time bomb,” said one resident, adding that it had been carrying a higher volume of heavy vehicles due to alternative route diversions. “We warned the authorities, but nothing was done. Now lives have been lost.”

A probe has been ordered to determine the exact cause of the collapse and whether maintenance audits had been conducted in recent years. Police have sealed off access to both ends of the broken structure and rerouted traffic through nearby villages.

The tragedy has reignited public debate on the condition of India’s aging infrastructure, especially in semi-rural areas. Civil engineers and experts are calling for an immediate review of all bridges over major rivers in Gujarat, with particular attention to those built before 1990.