Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh from the PM National Relief Fund for the families of the deceased in the Vadodara Bridge collapsing. The injured will be given Rs 50,000.
PM Modi expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.
The PMO wrote in an X post, “Loss of life due to the collapse of a bridge in Vadodara district of Gujarat is deeply saddened. There is condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. The injured may soon recover.”
The X post said, “East-Gatia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF will be given to the next one of each deceased. The injured will be given Rs 50,000: PM will be given,” X post said.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed grief over the loss of life in the collapse of Gambhara bridge in Padra area of Vadodara and ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident.
In a post on social media platform X, Bhupendra Patel wrote, “The tragedy caused by the fall of one of the 23 spans of Anand and Vadodara is sad. I pray for the peace of the souls of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.”
CM Patel directed the officers to ensure priority treatment for the injured.
The post read, “Instructions have been given to communicate with the Vadodara Collector to arrange immediate treatment for the injured and arrange for this on priority.”
He also confirmed that the Fire Brigade, Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) teams, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had joined the rescue and relief operations.
“Local municipal and Vadodara Municipal Corporation’s Fire Brigade team is working with boats and swimmers for rescue and relief operations at the accident site, and the NDRF team has also reached the scene and joined the rescue operations,” the post further read.
The Chief Minister has ordered a detailed technical inquiry into the cause of collapse.
“The Road Construction Department has been ordered to investigate the accident immediately. For this, the Chief Engineer – Design and Chief Engineer – A team of two other private engineers specialized in South Gujarat and the bridge construction has been instructed to reach the scene immediately, make a preliminary inquiry into the bridge collapse and other technical matters and submit a report.”
Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi had earlier said that nine bodies were recovered and six people were rescued.
“Nine bodies have been found so far, and six people have been rescued in the collapse of the bridge, which has been on the Gambhir Bridge on the Mahisagar river at 7 am today, which connects Vadodara rural and Anand districts,” Sanghi told reporters.
He said that the Chief Minister had sent a high-level committee to the accident site and demanded a quick report.
He said, “CM has sent a high committee to the spot in the morning and called for his report immediately, and the Chief Minister has sent the departments and other teams of the roads and buildings seriously and directed to take strict action.”
Rescue operations are going on. So far nine bodies have been recovered, and about nine injured have been transferred to hospitals. (AI)