At least 12 people, including three members of a single family, lost their lives and nine were injured after multiple vehicles plunged into the Mahisagar River following the collapse of a 43-year-old bridge in Vadodara district, Gujarat, around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

By 8 p.m., Vadodara Superintendent of Police Rohan Anand had confirmed 11 fatalities. An hour later, one more body was recovered by rescue teams. Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) continue to search the river for possible survivors.

Authorities have registered a case of accidental death, and a formal investigation will commence once rescue operations conclude. The District Collector has been asked to submit an inquiry report. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has ordered a probe by the Roads and Buildings Department, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident “deeply saddening.”

Located in Mujpur, Padra taluka, the one-kilometre bridge connected Mujpur to Gambhira in Anand district, offering an alternative route to avoid city traffic between Central Gujarat and Saurashtra.

Among the deceased were Ramesh, Vedika, and Naitaik Padhiyar from Dariyapura village; Hasmukh Parmar from Majatan; Vakhatsinh Jadav from Kahanva; and Pravin Jadav from Undel. One survivor, Sonal Padhiyar, lost her husband, daughter, and grandson when their Eeco van plunged into the river. “We fell in seconds. Help came an hour later... I knew I had lost them,” she recounted.

Another survivor, Raju Hathiya from Dwarka, described the fall as “sudden”. He was travelling to Ankleshwar and was pulled out by boat after his truck fell into the water. “There were at least three other vehicles and some motorcycles when the bridge gave way,” he said.

Earlier, Vadodara District Collector Anil Dhameliya stated that two trucks, an Eeco van, a pickup, and an autorickshaw fell into the river. Rescue operations, involving NDRF divers and the district fire team, are ongoing. Although the river is not at its deepest at the site, officials are still verifying the total number of vehicles involved.

The bridge had reportedly undergone repairs last year. Officials from the Roads and Buildings Department are on site to assess the damage after the rescue is completed.