Gujarat: Bridge Collapses In Surendranagar As Dumper Crosses Over Structure, Several Injured

Surendranagar Collector KC Sampat informed that four individuals sustained minor injuries when a section of an old bridge spanning the Bhogavo River in Gujarat's Surendranagar district collapsed.

Despite barricades, a 40-ton dumper tried to cross the bridge, leading to the collapse of its first slab, Surendranagar Collector KC Sampat informed.

At least four individuals sustained injuries on Sunday evening when a section of an old bridge spanning the Bhogavo River in Gujarat's Surendranagar district collapsed. The structure crumbled as a 40-ton dumper attempted to traverse the bridge, located on a panchayat road near Wadhwan city, despite stringent prohibitions against heavy vehicle entry, news agency PTI cited an official as saying. The bridge's first slab gave way under the weight, leading to the dumper and two motorcycles teetering precariously before plummeting into the Bhogavo River.

BREAKING | गुजरात के सुरेंद्र नगर में पुल टूटा, डंपर और 2 बाइक नदी में गिरीं

- हादसे में 4 लोग घायल, इलाज जारीhttps://t.co/smwhXUROiK | @vivekstake#Gujarat #SurendraNagar #Bridge #BridgeCollapse #Breaking pic.twitter.com/CRQKIMCAVn

— ABP News (@ABPNews) September 24, 2023

Surendranagar Collector KC Sampat informed that four individuals sustained minor injuries in the incident. The bridge, a relic of nearly four decades, fell under the purview of the state's Road and Buildings Department, which had taken precautions by installing warning signs and barricades to ward off heavy vehicular traffic.

Despite these deterrent measures, a 40-ton dumper ignored the warnings, attempting the ill-fated crossing that resulted in the first slab's collapse, the collector said, as per PTI. It is worth noting that a request for a new bridge had been previously submitted.

The incident serves as a grim reminder of a similar tragedy from last year when a British-era bridge spanning the Machchhu River in Morbi, Gujarat, collapsed on October 30, claiming the lives of 141 individuals. The bridge's collapse came merely four days after reopening to the public, following seven months of extensive renovations.

A report submitted by a five-member Special Investigation Team in December 2022 to the Gujarat government and shared with the Morbi civic body reported the presence of corroded wires in the bridge's cables. According to the report, out of the 49 wires, 22 had already corroded, implying potential prior damage before the catastrophic incident. The remaining 27 wires had ruptured more recently.

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