Vadodara, April 10 A portion of the upper structure of the Central Bus Station in Vadodara collapsed on Friday, leaving one person dead and causing temporary disruption to bus services at the facility.
The incident occurred at the bus terminal, which was constructed for Rs 114 crore, and sparked panic among passengers and staff on site.
According to police, the collapse took place between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Initial confusion over casualties was clarified later by officials, who confirmed that only one person had died and no other injuries were reported.
Speaking to IANS, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-1) Jagdish Chavda said: “As per preliminary information, the deceased has been identified as Narasinhbhai Dave, a resident of Chandkheda in Ahmedabad. At present, no other casualties have occurred due to the incident."
He further stated, “A team of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and other agencies is conducting sampling and further investigation. The area has been sanitised, and once sampling is completed, debris will be cleared with the assistance of the fire brigade and other agencies. An accidental death (AD) case has been registered.”
Following the collapse, fire brigade personnel and police teams arrived at the scene and began rescue and clearance operations.
The affected area was cordoned off, and passengers were evacuated from nearby sections of the terminal as a precaution.
Bus operations were partially disrupted as authorities restricted movement within the premises to ensure safety.
Officials also conducted checks to rule out the possibility of anyone being trapped under the debris.
FSL and other technical experts have begun examining the site to determine the cause of the structural failure. The bus station was inaugurated in February 2014 by the then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
The collapse has also drawn political reactions.
State Congress spokesperson Dr Manish Doshi said, “In an incident today at the Vadodara Central Bus Station, built for Rs 114 crore, the structure on the upper portion suddenly collapsed, triggering panic. In this serious accident, one person died on the spot.”
He further alleged, “This is another example of corruption in Gujarat. A similar incident occurred a few days ago when a water tank collapsed. This reflects the ‘chanda do-dhandha lo’ politics of the BJP. Due to corruption, people are losing their lives and suffering. I urge that a thorough investigation be conducted into the incident.”
--IANS
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