Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday accused the BJP leadership and the central government of crossing “all boundaries of apathy” in the name of governance. He said that recent tragedies such as the Gujarat bridge collapse and Ahmedabad aircraft accident are the results of “leadership crisis”, “comprehensive corruption” and “disability”.
His remarks came on Wednesday after a large part of the Gambhra bridge collapsed in Vadodara district of Gujarat. The incident took place last month after the deadly aircraft accident in Ahmedabad, in which more than 240 people lost their lives.
Kharge wrote to X, “Accidents have become common in the country. Sometimes a railway accident, sometimes soon after the inauguration, the bridge was cracks in the bridge. The country had not yet recovered from the plane crash that there was news of a bridge collapse in Gujarat yesterday. 12 Innocents lost their lives.”
He also expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and cited a report that warned three years ago that the bridge is in a “dangerous” position due to “vibration”.
Kharge alleged, “According to reports, three years ago it was said that the bridge situation due to” vibration “is” dangerous “. Still, nothing has been done. Since 2021, this is the 7th incident of bridge collapse in Gujarat.”
Kharge said, “The BJP leadership and the government, busy in speeches and advertisements in the name of governance, have crossed all limits of apathy. This leadership is the result of crisis, prevailing corruption, lack of government’s ability and disability.”
He said, “We hope that the people of the country are watching it and will give proper response when the time comes.”
Meanwhile, the number of dead increased to 15 on Thursday with three more bodies in the Gambhira bridge collapse in Vadodara district of Gujarat. According to officials, four people are still missing and rescue operations are on.
The incident occurred when a part of the bridge connecting Vadodara and Anand broke down and fell down into the Mahisagar river.
Vadodara collector Anil Dhelia told reporters, “Today, three more dead bodies have been recovered. Four people are still missing. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are running a search and rescue operations up to four kilometers below.”
He further explained that two vehicles are trapped in the mud at the scene. We are asking the public about information about those vehicles. He said, “It is raining and the water level of the river has increased.”
Regarding a truck hanging from the broken bridge, Dhelia said, “This is an empty tanker. If we shake it it can fall. Efforts are on to stabilize it, as the rescue work is going on below.”
Vadodara Superintendent of Police (SP) Rohan Anand said on Wednesday that a slab of 10–15 meters in the middle of the bridge collapsed, causing two trucks, two pickup vans and a rickshaw in the river. Two vehicles are still stranded on the damaged part of the bridge.
He said that nine people have been rescued so far, five of which have been referred to SSG Hospital. He said, “None of the rescued people are in critical condition.”
