India, July 9 -- The Gambhira Bridge in Gujarat's Vadodara district, which collapsed and led to the death of at least nine people after vehicles fell into the river Mahisagar on Wednesday, served as a vital route between central Gujarat and the Saurashtra region for the past four decades.

The bridge, approximately 900 metres long and supported by 23 piers, was inaugurated in 1985. Local residents had repeatedly flagged the deteriorating condition of the bridge, but their appeals to the authorities for repairs were allegedly ignored, according to a report by NDTV.

Minister Rushikesh Patel, however, said maintenance work on the bridge, which linked Anand and Vadodara districts, was conducted periodically, whenever needed.

Chief Minister ...