In a concerning incident on Sunday evening, an old bridge spanning the Bhogavo river in Gujarat's Surendranagar district suffered a partial collapse, resulting in injuries to four individuals. The mishap unfolded when a 40-ton dumper attempted to traverse the bridge on a panchayat road near Wadhwan city, despite the prohibition on heavy vehicle access.
Surendranagar Collector KC Sampat revealed that the bridge, which had been in service for nearly four decades, was the responsibility of the state Road and Buildings Department. Despite the presence of warning signs and barricades intended to restrict the passage of heavy vehicles, the ill-fated dumper ventured onto the bridge, ultimately leading to the collapse of its first slab, PTI reported.
The consequences of this reckless action were immediate, with the bridge's first section giving way, causing the dumper and two motorcycles to plunge into the Bhogavo river below. Fortunately, the injuries sustained by the four individuals involved were minor in nature.
In the wake of this incident, authorities have underscored the pressing need for a new bridge at this location, a request that had already been submitted.
