Just days after the tragic Gambhira Bridge collapse in Vadodara claimed 21 lives, another alarming incident has shaken Gujarat. In Ajak village of Mangrol taluka in Junagadh district, a bridge under demolition suddenly collapsed on Tuesday, plunging a Hitachi machine and over eight individuals, including a child, into the Ajak river from a height of approximately 15 feet. Miraculously, there were no casualties, and all those involved were rescued safely.
The incident unfolded during the repair and demolition work on the Atroli-Keshod connecting bridge. Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud crash as the bridge slab unexpectedly gave way beneath the equipment. “It was a miracle. The Hitachi machine fell along with the workers, and we feared the worst. But everyone climbed out safely,” said a local villager present during the incident.
Footage of the bridge collapse quickly circulated on social media, capturing the moment the slab crumbled and chaos erupted. Locals could be seen rushing to assist as debris and the bulldozer lay submerged. The video has ignited public anger, with residents questioning the lack of basic safety measures at the demolition site.
At least 6 people including a child fell into the Ajak river in Mangrol taluka of Junagadh in Gujarat along with a bulldozer while the causeway-type bridge was being demolished.
— Brendan Dabhi (@BrendanDabhi) July 15, 2025
This comes merely 6 days after the Gambhira bridge disaster in Vadodara.@IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/e6fe3B9LPp
“Why are workers and villagers allowed to stand on a bridge that is clearly under demolition?” asked one outraged resident. “There was no proper barricading or safety arrangements. It’s sheer luck that no one died today.”
In response, Junagadh District Collector Anil Ranavasia clarified that the bridge had not collapsed in the traditional sense but was in the process of being demolished as part of planned reconstruction work. “This bridge was closed for vehicular movement for two days. Our engineers had determined it needed to be dismantled and rebuilt. Unfortunately, the slab broke unexpectedly during the process,” he stated.
Ranavasia added that warning signs and barricades had been put up on both ends of the bridge. However, villagers had gathered near the area despite these precautions, contributing to the near-disaster.
Abhishek Gohil, Executive Engineer of the Junagadh District Road and Building (R&B) Department Panchayat, confirmed that the bridge had been deemed structurally weak during inspection. “We had begun slab removal using a breaker machine. During this, a large portion of the slab unexpectedly gave way. Thankfully, no one was injured,” he said.
The 10-meter-long causeway-type bridge, which consists of two 5-meter spans, is one of 480 bridges under ongoing safety inspections in Junagadh following the Gambhira bridge tragedy. So far, six bridges in the district have been shut down due to safety concerns.
This latest scare has further intensified concerns about bridge infrastructure in Gujarat. Coming just six days after the Gambhira bridge collapse on July 9, public anxiety and anger are growing.
