**Tragedy Strikes Gujarat as Bridge Collapse Claims Lives**

At least 15 fatalities and several missing as locals demand accountability for known infrastructure issues.

Survivors of a deadly bridge collapse in Gujarat, India, on Wednesday morning described the horrifying incident, initially mistaking the earth-shattering noise for an explosion or earthquake. The tragic event has led to the loss of at least 15 lives, with authorities continuing their search for four individuals still unaccounted for.

Anwarbhai, one of the survivors and a driver who was on the bridge with two passengers, recounted a vivid memory of a deafening crack that preceded a portion of the bridge falling into the Mahisagar river along with several vehicles. "There was a huge explosion-like sound, and part of the bridge collapsed behind us," he told BBC Gujarati. The bridge, which regularly ferried significant traffic, connected the Vadodara district with central Gujarat.

Visuals captured by bystanders showed a truck precariously hanging off the edge of the fractured structure, later moved to safety. Tragically, various other vehicles including cars, lorries, and a tuktuk plunged into the river during the collapse.

Surender Singh, a National Disaster Response Force official, stated, "Our priority is to check the area quickly and retrieve both bodies and any survivors." Among the victims is Sonalben Padhiyar, who tragically lost six family members. In an emotional interview, she recounted the harrowing experience of her car falling into the river as she clamored for help to save her son.

Dilipsinh Padhiyar, another survivor, expressed disbelief at the collapse occurring during seemingly normal traffic conditions. He described the shock of falling into the river after feeling vibrations from the aging structure, which ultimately forced him to cling to a metal rod for survival until local fishermen intervened.

Eyewitnesses likened the violent event to an earthquake due to the tremors it generated, prompting immediate rescue efforts from locals, who mobilized quickly to assist victims.

Adding complexity to the incident, local residents reported regularly voicing concerns about the bridge’s deteriorating condition. Ravibhai, a local, recounted that the structure would often tremble under the weight of heavy vehicles. Abhesinh Parmar, a local council chief, criticized authorities for their inaction regarding the bridge's unsafe state, citing visible deterioration over time.

In response to the outcry, Rushikesh Patel, a representative of the Gujarat government, asserted that the bridge undergoes routine inspections and repairs. Furthermore, he confirmed that plans for a replacement bridge were underway, with tenders soon to be issued.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hails from Gujarat, has expressed condolences to the victims' families, pledging compensation. The bridge disaster echoes previous incidents related to poor public infrastructure maintenance, highlighting an ongoing concern for safety within India’s infrastructure management, notably the collapse in Morbi city last year that killed 135 individuals when a historic bridge gave way shortly after reopening after repairs.