Vadodara, July 9 -- At least nine people were killed and five others critically injured after a section of the four-decade-old Gambhira bridge collapsed in Gujarat's Vadodara district early Tuesday morning, sending multiple vehicles into the Mahisagar river.

The incident occurred around 7:30 am on the Padra-Mujpur stretch, a crucial link between Central Gujarat and the Saurashtra region. According to officials, two trucks and two vans were among the vehicles that fell into the river after a major portion of the bridge gave way.

Local authorities launched a large-scale rescue operation, with teams from the Vadodara fire department, local residents, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) working on-site. Drone footage shows a mas...