The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Vadodara Division, Raju Bhadke, visited the site of the collapsed under-construction railway overbridge (ROB) near Adas village in Anand district on Sunday, a day after the incident, and conducted a detailed inspection. The railway administration has formed a four-member inquiry committee to probe the collapse.
Details of the Incident
The ROB, being constructed over Level Crossing No. 250 between Vadod and Adas Road stations at an estimated cost of around Rs 50 crore, suffered a setback on Saturday when three girders forming part of the approach structure between two pillars collapsed. No casualties or injuries were reported as the collapse occurred away from both the railway tracks and the roadway.
Inspection and Demands
During the visit, local leaders demanded stringent action against those responsible and called for an independent assessment of the construction materials used in the project, along with a structural audit of the remaining portions of the bridge. Bhadke inspected the entire site, reviewed the damaged section and interacted with local residents. He also climbed one of the pillars to examine the point from where the girders had slipped and fallen.
Official Statements
Addressing mediapersons, Bhadke said the railway ministry, Vadodara Division and railway headquarters were treating the incident with utmost seriousness. He said a high-level technical committee had been tasked with carrying out a detailed probe. “The committee will ascertain the cause of the collapse, fix accountability and recommend corrective measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents,” Bhadke said.
According to railway officials, the ROB project is being executed by the Gati Shakti Unit of the Vadodara Division and is jointly funded by the railways and the state government. Railway authorities said officials and technical experts from the concerned agencies reached the site soon after the incident and initiated an inquiry. They added that safety measures were in place and corrective steps had been undertaken to ensure safe completion of the project.
Investigation and Quality Assessment
Bhadke said the inquiry would also assess the quality of materials used and the standards of construction followed at the site, adding that the investigation would be completed at the earliest. Meanwhile, local leaders alleged that substandard materials may have been used and claimed that lapses in construction quality could have contributed to the collapse. They demanded accountability and a comprehensive technical investigation.
The four-member committee will examine all technical and construction-related aspects of the incident and submit its findings to the railway administration, based on which further action will be taken.
