The death toll from the bridge collapse in Gujarat's Vadodara district has tragically climbed to 20, according to officials. The incident occurred on Wednesday when a portion of the bridge over the Mahisagar river collapsed, causing several vehicles to plunge into the river. The bridge, which connected Anand and Vadodara districts, was constructed in 1985.

Rescue operations have been ongoing since the collapse, with teams working to locate the missing. As of Friday, two people were still missing. One of the injured victims died in the hospital, contributing to the rise in the death toll.

The Gujarat government has taken swift action in response to the tragedy. Four engineers from the state's Roads and Buildings Department have been suspended. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has ordered an inquiry into the collapse and promised a detailed report within 30 days. A preliminary report indicates that the collapse may have been caused by pedestal and articulation failure. Gujarat health minister Rushikesh Patel stated that the "primary investigation has found crushing of pedestal and articulation joints".

The collapse has raised concerns about the safety and maintenance of infrastructure in India. In 2022, a similar tragedy occurred in Gujarat when a colonial-era suspension bridge collapsed, resulting in the deaths of 132 people. Gujarat Chief Minister has stated that a statewide survey has identified 7,000 bridges, some of which require urgent repairs or replacement.

The incident has prompted calls for greater accountability and stricter safety standards to prevent future tragedies. Gujarat Congress legislative party leader Amit Chavda sought inspection reports and fitness certificates of bridges across the state to be shared in the public domain.