Family Trip Turns Tragic
Four-year-old Vedika and her one-year-old brother Naitik left with their parents early yesterday for a temple nearly 280 km from their home in Vadodara district, Gujarat. Their father, Ramesh Padhiyar, and mother, Sonal Padhiyar, made a mannat (wish) at Bagdana Bapa Sitaram temple in Bhavnagar district. Their prayers had been answered, and this was a trip to thank God. However, fate had other plans.
Bridge Collapse Tragedy
The family of four, along with some relatives, was travelling in a van when tragedy struck. The 40-year-old Gambhira bridge, while they were crossing the Mahisagar river, collapsed. The van and several other vehicles plunged into the river. Sonal, in a desperate attempt, managed to make it to the surface. However, she couldn’t find her husband and children and soon realized the devastating truth: they had not survived.
A heartbroken Sonal recounted the events, saying, “Our family and some other relatives from our village had hired a van to visit the Bagdana temple. Around 7 am, when we were crossing the bridge, it collapsed. The vehicle in front of our car fell into the river and our van followed. When I managed to come to the surface of the water, I screamed for help. I kept screaming and asking people to save my children and husband. Help came an hour later, everyone in that van, except me, died.”
Community Grieves
The tragic incident was captured on video, showing Sonal’s distress as she pleaded for help while standing in the river water. Despite assurances of help, it arrived too late.
Harshad Singh Parmar, a Panchayat member from Munjapur village, raised concerns about the bridge’s safety. He mentioned past warnings regarding the bridge’s condition but stated that no action was taken. He highlighted the family’s visit to Bagdana temple, where they had prayed for a son, and tragically lost their lives in the bridge collapse.
Government Orders Investigation
The Gambhira bridge collapse, claiming 15 lives and leaving several missing, has sparked questions about administrative negligence. In response, the Gujarat government has launched an investigation into the incident.
Originally built in 1985, the bridge was identified as a hazard waiting to happen. Following a call for action by local MLA Chaitanyasinh Zala, plans for a new bridge were underway. Despite repairs, the bridge ultimately gave way.
Political Responses
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy, calling it deeply saddening. Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress criticized the state government, citing the incident as a reflection of corruption and decay in the Gujarat Model.
