Vasai East Bridge Collapse Strands Heavy Vehicle and Car in Palghar

A bridge collapsed in Vasai East, Palghar on Saturday afternoon, leaving an overloaded heavy vehicle and a car stranded on the damaged structure. The incident occurred at approximately 3:00 PM on the road connecting Medhe with Vadghar, Kalambhon, and Lendi villages. No injuries or casualties were reported, and the occupants of the trapped vehicles escaped unharmed.

The bridge suddenly gave way while the heavy vehicle and the four-wheeler were crossing it, trapping both on the damaged portion of the structure. The collapse has severed the main road link to Vadghar, Kalambhon, and Lendi villages, causing major inconvenience to local residents who rely on the route.

The bridge falls within the jurisdiction of the Medhe Gram Panchayat. It serves as a key route connecting Medhe with Vadghar, Kalambhon, Lendi, and several nearby hamlets. Local residents, as well as two-wheelers and four-wheelers, frequently use this route for daily travel. Additionally, heavy vehicles regularly transport soil and murrum across the bridge from nearby minor mineral excavation sites.

According to local residents, the bridge had deteriorated over time due to the continuous movement of overloaded trucks carrying minor minerals beyond the permissible capacity limit. Residents claimed that they had made repeated complaints to the authorities regarding the poor condition of the bridge and the unchecked movement of these heavy vehicles, but their warnings were ignored.

Villagers stated that the excessive load from the heavy vehicles eventually weakened the structure, leading to its sudden collapse on Saturday. The disruption is expected to affect daily commuting, the movement of goods, and the delivery of essential services to the local villages until an alternative route is arranged or the bridge is restored.