Vadodara, April 10 (NationPress) - A segment of the upper structure at the Central Bus Station in Vadodara collapsed on Friday, tragically resulting in one fatality and temporarily halting bus operations at the facility.

The incident took place at the terminal, which was built at a cost of Rs 114 crore, causing panic among passengers and staff members present.

According to local authorities, the collapse happened between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Initial uncertainty regarding the number of casualties was resolved by officials, who later confirmed that only one individual had died, with no additional injuries reported.

In an interview with IANS, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-1) Jagdish Chavda stated: “As per preliminary information, the deceased has been identified as Narasinhbhai Dave, a resident of Chandkheda in Ahmedabad. Currently, no further casualties have been reported due to this incident.”

He also mentioned, “A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and other agencies is conducting investigations. The area has been secured, and once sampling is finished, debris will be cleared with the help of the fire brigade and other services. An accidental death (AD) case has been filed.”

In response to the collapse, fire brigade personnel and police units rushed to the scene to initiate rescue and clearance efforts.

The affected zone was cordoned off, and passengers were evacuated from adjacent areas of the terminal as a safety measure.

Bus services were partially interrupted as officials restricted movement within the premises to uphold safety standards.

Authorities also conducted checks to ensure that no one was trapped beneath the rubble.

FSL and other technical experts have commenced their examination of the site to uncover the reasons behind the structural failure. The bus station was inaugurated in February 2014 by then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

The incident has also elicited political reactions.

State Congress spokesperson Dr. Manish Doshi remarked, “In today's incident at the Vadodara Central Bus Station, constructed at a cost of Rs 114 crore, the upper structure unexpectedly collapsed, causing panic. This serious accident resulted in one person losing their life.”

He further accused, “This serves as another indication of corruption in Gujarat. A similar incident transpired recently when a water tank collapsed. This illustrates the ‘chanda do-dhandha lo’ politics of the BJP. Due to corruption, lives are at stake, and people are suffering. I call for a comprehensive investigation into this incident.”