Survivors recall second of bridge collapse

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Survivors of a bridge collapse in India's Gujarat state on Wednesday that killed no less than 15 individuals have mentioned that they initially thought it was an explosion or earthquake.

The reason for the collapse continues to be to be ascertained, and investigations are beneath method in line with state authorities officers.

Anwarbhai, who was driving a van which had two different passengers, was on the bridge on Wednesday morning when he heard a deafening crack - a piece of the bridge behind him had collapsed into the Mahisagar river, taking some autos together with it.

"There was an enormous explosion-like sound and a part of the bridge collapsed behind us. Our van additionally began rolling backwards so we shortly jumped out," he instructed BBC Gujarati.

The 40-year-old bridge linked Vadodara district with central Gujarat and often noticed a variety of visitors.

Dramatic visuals after the collapse confirmed a truck teetering dangerously from the sting of the damaged bridge - it was later moved to security. However different autos, together with lorries, automobiles and a tuktuk, plunged into the water.

At the very least 4 persons are nonetheless lacking and search operations are beneath method.

"Our precedence is to verify the world shortly and retrieve each our bodies and any survivors," Surender Singh, an official with the Nationwide Catastrophe Response Drive, instructed information company ANI.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/518a/live/8ac943c0-5d53-11f0-9680-eb6b1ff651a1.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/518a/live/8ac943c0-5d53-11f0-9680-eb6b1ff651a1.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/518a/live/8ac943c0-5d53-11f0-9680-eb6b1ff651a1.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/518a/live/8ac943c0-5d53-11f0-9680-eb6b1ff651a1.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/518a/live/8ac943c0-5d53-11f0-9680-eb6b1ff651a1.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/518a/live/8ac943c0-5d53-11f0-9680-eb6b1ff651a1.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/518a/live/8ac943c0-5d53-11f0-9680-eb6b1ff651a1.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/518a/live/8ac943c0-5d53-11f0-9680-eb6b1ff651a1.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="ANI A truck stuck at the precipice of a collapsed bridge in Gujarat" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> ANI A truck teetering off the sting of the damaged bridge on Wednesday

Sonalben Padhiyar was the one survivor amongst her members of the family after the automobile she was travelling in fell into the river.

Recounting the terrifying moments, Ms Padhiyar instructed the Indian Categorical newspaper that she was sitting within the again when the automobile fell into the river headfirst.

A video of her, visibly distressed and shouting for somebody to avoid wasting her son, has since gone viral. She later instructed ANI that she screamed for a very long time earlier than assist arrived. She misplaced six members of the family.

Dilipsinh Padhiyar, one other survivor (not associated to Ms Padhiyar), was returning residence from an evening shift on his two-wheeler when the accident happened.

"Site visitors was shifting as ordinary," he instructed the Indian Categorical.

He mentioned he had barely crossed 100m on the bridge when he felt a vibration earlier than the construction gave method.

"I discovered myself falling into the river," he mentioned.

Mr Padhiyar suffered accidents however managed to carry on to a steel rod and keep afloat till native fishermen arrived to assist.

Eyewitnesses mentioned the collapse felt like an earthquake, shaking the bottom and sending a number of autos crashing into the river.

Jairaj Singh, one of many locals who rushed to the scene, instructed BBC Gujarati he was alerted by a telephone name from a buddy.

"As quickly as I heard, I rushed over," he mentioned. "We started pulling out autos with ropes. Individuals from the world got here collectively to assist."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/c9c1/live/0ee88920-5d51-11f0-8781-53bc63e7c0c2.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/c9c1/live/0ee88920-5d51-11f0-8781-53bc63e7c0c2.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/c9c1/live/0ee88920-5d51-11f0-8781-53bc63e7c0c2.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/c9c1/live/0ee88920-5d51-11f0-8781-53bc63e7c0c2.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/c9c1/live/0ee88920-5d51-11f0-8781-53bc63e7c0c2.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/c9c1/live/0ee88920-5d51-11f0-8781-53bc63e7c0c2.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/c9c1/live/0ee88920-5d51-11f0-8781-53bc63e7c0c2.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/c9c1/live/0ee88920-5d51-11f0-8781-53bc63e7c0c2.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters Rescuers search for survivors after a bridge collapsed in Vadodara in the western state of Gujarat, India, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Reuters Locals additionally rushed to assist rescue individuals from the river

The collapse has set off a political row, with locals saying they'd typically complained about its poor situation.

Ravibhai, who lives within the space, instructed BBC Gujarati that the bridge would typically shake when heavy autos drove on it.

Abhesinh Parmar, a neighborhood council chief from a village close to the bridge, mentioned it was in a "dilapidated" situation and "had potholes in all places".

"Rods could possibly be seen protruding of the construction. We complained many occasions, however no motion was taken," he alleged.

Rushikesh Patel, a spokesperson for the Gujarat authorities, denied this, saying that the bridge was inspected and repaired at common intervals.

"Not too long ago, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel had accepted dismantling the prevailing bridge and setting up a brand new one. We have been set to subject a young quickly," he mentioned.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who's from Gujarat, has expressed his condolences to the households of the victims and introduced compensation.

Wednesday's collapse is amongst a collection of lethal accidents linked to ageing and poorly maintained public infrastructure in India.

In 2022, round 135 individuals have been killed when a 137-year-old suspension bridge in Gujarat's Morbi city collapsed right into a river. The bridge, a well-liked vacationer attraction, had reopened for guests simply days earlier following repairs.