PM Modi Announces Ex-Gratia for Victims of Vadodara Bridge Collapse, CM Patel Orders High-Level Probe

Vadodara: In the wake of the tragic Gambhira bridge collapse in Vadodara, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced ex-gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

Taking to social media, the Prime Minister’s Office posted on X, “The loss of lives due to the collapse of a bridge in Vadodara district, Gujarat, is deeply saddening. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon.”

Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed grief over the incident and ordered an immediate technical investigation. In his post on X, Patel said, “The tragedy caused by the collapse of one of the 23 spans of the Gambhira Bridge connecting Anand and Vadodara is unfortunate. I pray for the peace of the souls of those who lost their lives.”

The CM has directed the Road Construction Department, along with senior engineers and private bridge experts, to visit the site, assess the damage, and submit a preliminary technical report. He also ordered priority medical care for the injured and coordinated with the Vadodara Collector for immediate treatment arrangements.

Rescue and relief operations are ongoing, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC), and local fire brigade deployed at the scene. Boats and swimmers are being used to search for missing persons and retrieve vehicles that fell into the Mahisagar River after a section of the bridge gave way.

Earlier in the day, Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi confirmed that nine people had died and six were rescued. He emphasized that Chief Minister Patel had dispatched a high-level committee to the site early in the morning and sought a report at the earliest.