National News: A portion of an aging bridge over the Mahisagar River in Gujarat’s Vadodara district collapsed unexpectedly, sending several vehicles plunging into the waters below. Among the chaos and destruction, a deeply moving and tragic scene unfolded—a woman, stranded atop a sinking van, desperately pleaded for help to save her husband and two children. Tragically, rescue arrived too late.
A Mother’s Cries Echo Amid Rising Waters
A harrowing video capturing the scene has gone viral on social media. It shows 35-year-old Sonalben Padhiyar perched on top of a half-submerged vehicle, partially drenched and visibly distraught. Her face, etched with agony and despair, is a chilling reminder of the tragedy that had just unfolded.
In a desperate cry for help in Gujarati, she is heard saying, “Mara balko doobi gaya, mara pati doobi gaya… koi to bachavo (My children are drowning… my husband is drowning… someone please save them).” But the raging river gave no mercy. By the time rescue teams arrived, her husband and both children had already been lost to the depths.
A Spiritual Journey That Ended in Tragedy
Sonalben and her family had set out on a religious trip to the Bagdana temple near Bhavnagar. Their van carried seven passengers in total. As they were crossing the bridge, a section suddenly collapsed, causing their van—along with a heavy truck—to plunge into the river.
Sonalben, who was seated at the rear of the vehicle, managed to escape, but her husband Ramesh (38), daughter Vedika (4), and son Naitik (2) were trapped and drowned when the truck fell on top of their van.
Political Heat, Cold Accountability
The tragedy has triggered widespread outrage. The opposition has blamed the government for negligence and demanded the resignation of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
Congress leader Amit Chavda revealed that multiple warnings had been issued by locals about the poor condition of the 40-year-old bridge. Despite repeated complaints, no repairs were carried out. Leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party and former Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela have labeled the incident a “criminal act of negligence” and are calling for a judicial probe.
Neglected Infrastructure, Preventable Loss
Preliminary reports suggest the bridge had long exceeded its expected service life. Local residents argue that if the government had acted on time and conducted the necessary maintenance, this heartbreaking disaster could have been avoided.
A Warning in Disguise
This was not just an engineering failure—it was a humanitarian one. The anguished cries of a mother echo as a stark reminder of what happens when infrastructure is ignored and responsibility is evaded. Before celebrating progress and development, governments must prioritize safety and act on timely warnings—because sometimes, even a moment’s delay can cost entire families their lives.
