‘Act of God or Fraud?’: Opposition Slams Gujarat BJP Govt as Vadodara Bridge Collapse Kills 10
By HT News Desk | Updated July 9, 2025, 5:28 PM IST
At least 10 people died after a portion of the Gambhira Bridge over the Mahisagar River in Vadodara’s Padra area collapsed on Wednesday morning. The tragedy involved five vehicles — including two trucks, an SUV, a pickup van, and an auto-rickshaw — falling into the river. Rescue operations are ongoing, with fears the death toll could rise.
Opposition Criticism:
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Congress: Termed the collapse “tragic” and said residents had repeatedly warned about the unstable bridge. They accused the BJP government of corruption, alleging contractors paid commissions for work orders, leading to poor maintenance. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate called the “hollow ‘Gujarat Model’ another name for corruption.”
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Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi: Condemned the shoddy work and called for protests holding the government and contractors accountable.
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Trinamool Congress: Highlighted the incident’s similarity to the Morbi bridge collapse two years ago. TMC questioned if it was an “Act of God or an ACT OF FRAUD” and criticized Prime Minister Modi for being distracted by foreign visits and public relations activities. Leader Mahua Moitra accused BJP of neglecting infrastructure safety while focusing on other issues.
Government Response:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow and condolences to the victims’ families. He announced an ex-gratia compensation of ?2 lakh for each deceased family and ?50,000 for the injured, payable from the PM National Relief Fund.
