The search and rescue operations in the Mahisagar River in Gujarat’s Vadodara resumed on Saturday for the fourth consecutive day, aiming to recover the body of a man who has been missing since the bridge collapse, as well as to remove vehicles and the main slab of the structure that fell into the river.

The death toll from the tragedy increased to 20 on Friday after another body was retrieved from the river, and an additional injured individual succumbed to their injuries at the hospital during treatment. One more person remains unaccounted for, and search efforts to locate him resumed on Saturday, according to Vadodara collector Anil Dhameliya.

Several vehicles fell into the river following the collapse of a section of the 40-year-old bridge near Gambhira village, which connects the Anand and Vadodara districts, on Wednesday morning. The collector mentioned that another objective of Saturday’s operation will be to extract a large piece of slab that has fallen into the river.

“In the next phase of our operation (on Saturday), we will enlist the assistance of a technical team to remove the main slab and recover the body of the missing individual. The Gujarat Pollution Control Board will be involved to safely retrieve the tanker carrying sulphuric acid that has fallen into the river,” Dhameliya stated.

Referring to a preliminary investigation report, a state minister indicated on Friday that the collapse was attributed to the “crushing of pedestal and articulation joints.”

Rescue teams have been operating under difficult conditions, including 3.5 meters of mud, the release of soda ash into the water, and the presence of a tanker containing sulphuric acid. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and other agencies are participating in the rescue operations.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has suspended four engineers from the state’s Roads and Buildings Department in relation to the bridge collapse. Minister Rushikesh Patel, who visited the site of the disaster on Friday, stated that the action was taken based on a preliminary report submitted by a committee established by the chief minister.

A high-level investigative committee from the state’s roads and buildings department is set to present a comprehensive report within 30 days, he stated.

From the 7,000 bridges surveyed across the state, the government has pinpointed those requiring repairs or the construction of new structures. Appropriate actions will be taken regarding these, he mentioned following the visit. Since 2021, Gujarat has experienced six significant bridge collapse incidents.

In December 2021, a slab fell during the construction of the Mumatpura flyover located on the outskirts of Ahmedabad city. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported in this incident.

In October 2022, a tragic event occurred when a British-era suspension bridge over the Machchhu River in Morbi town collapsed, resulting in the deaths of 135 individuals.

In June 2023, a newly constructed bridge over the Mindhola River in the Tapi district collapsed, but thankfully, no injuries were reported.

In September 2023, four individuals sustained injuries when a section of an old bridge on the Bhogavo River in Surendranagar district gave way while a 40-tonne dumper was crossing it near Wadhwan city.

In October 2023, two people lost their lives while sitting in an autorickshaw when six concrete girders or slabs, which had been placed on the pillars of an under-construction bridge near the RTO Circle in Palanpur town of Banaskantha, collapsed.

In August 2024, a small bridge on the Bhogavo River that connects Habiyasar village with Chotila town in Surendranagar district collapsed due to a sudden increase in water levels following discharge from an overflowing dam. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported in this incident. PTI KA PD ARU