“Today's accident is a result of the Gujarat government's negligence, and the BJP government is responsible for the lives lost,”
Vadodara Bridge Collapse: 13 Bodies, 5 Survivors Retrieved; Rescue Operation Likely to Conclude by Afternoon
Vadodara Bridge Collapse: 13 Bodies, 5 Survivors Retrieved Latest News Updates: In the aftermath of Wednesday's devastating bridge collapse in Gujarat’s Vadodara district, 13 bodies and 5 survivors have been recovered so far.
The rescue operation is expected to conclude by this afternoon, confirmed Surender Singh, Commandant of the 6th Battalion, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
The incident occurred around 7:30 AM on Wednesday when a 10 to 15-metre-long slab of a 43-year-old bridge collapsed, sending multiple vehicles plunging into the Mahisagar River. Emergency response teams were immediately dispatched to the scene.
The bridge connected central Gujarat with the Saurashtra region.
Surender Singh told ANI that the District Administration informed the NDRF about the incident around 9 AM. Initially, one team was deployed, but after assessing the severity of the situation, additional personnel were sent.
“We assessed that one team wouldn't be enough, so we deployed an additional team. Later, one more sub-team joined the operation. Currently, two full teams and one sub-team are working on the rescue,” Singh said.
“Our priority is to thoroughly check the area and retrieve both bodies and live victims. We aim to complete the operation by this afternoon,” he added.
The cause of the bridge collapse is under investigation. According to a report by The Hindu, authorities are prioritizing the safe removal of a chemical-laden tanker near the collapsed section to prevent environmental hazards.
Officials from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board conducted an inspection on Thursday morning to assess potential risks.
Leader of the Congress Legislative Party in Gujarat, Amit Chavda, criticized the state government for its alleged “negligence” and held the ruling BJP responsible for the loss of lives.
“Today’s accident is a result of the Gujarat government’s negligence, and the BJP government is responsible for the lives lost,” he said.
He added, “Due to the bridge being very old, it was repeatedly said that its time limit was about to end, and a new bridge should be built, but the government did not listen to anyone.”
He further stated, “Thousands of young people travel daily on this bridge for employment, and the entire traffic of Saurashtra passes through here. We have been continuously raising concerns about the bridge’s poor condition and the urgent need for repairs.”
Chavda has also demanded an investigation into the matter. “The Gujarat government should conduct an audit of all bridges in the state and make their fitness certificates available in the public domain,” he urged.
Gujarat AAP President Isudan Ghadhvi said, "...This is an example of corruption by the BJP govt. Due to negligence by the BJP government, this accident has happened. If the CM is not able to govern the state, he should resign..."
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