Tragedy on Rakholi Bridge
One teenager was killed and another critically injured on Wednesday afternoon after both fell nearly 60 feet from the Rakholi Bridge onto a rocky riverbed in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Police identified the deceased as Bhumika Shankarbhai Dodiya (17) and the injured girl as Rejina Arvindbhai Dhappasa (16), both residents of Dapada near Silvassa.
Passers-by who witnessed the fall immediately alerted local authorities and emergency teams. Rescue personnel rushed the two adolescents to Namo Hospital in Silvassa, where doctors declared Bhumika dead on arrival. Rejina was admitted to intensive care with severe head and body trauma after impact with rocks in the dry riverbed and remains in critical condition, according to hospital sources.
Police action and ongoing inquiries
Local police registered a case of accidental death and said they were questioning family members and acquaintances as part of their probe into the circumstances that led the two cousins to jump. Initial inquiries revealed both girls were involved in relationships with different young men; families had reportedly told investigators they had assured the teenagers that marriages would be arranged after they reached legal age.
Police sources said the sudden decision by the girls to jump despite their relatives' alleged assurances has prompted further questioning to determine any immediate trigger. Investigating officers have not yet released additional details about possible motives or the timeline leading up to the incident.
Local concerns over bridge safety
The incident renewed public concern over safety at the Rakholi Bridge on the Silvassa–Khanvel route. Community leaders and local residents told reporters the bridge has become a location for repeated jump incidents in recent years and called for measures to prevent further tragedies.
Local residents say the Rakholi Bridge has turned into an "unmonitored suicide hotspot" and urged authorities to install safety fencing.
Residents and community representatives demanded immediate installation of high safety fencing along bridge ledges and the implementation of monitoring to restrict access to vulnerable points. No official decision on safety upgrades has been announced by local administration at the time of filing.
- Emergency response: Passers-by alerted authorities and rescue teams transported the victims to Namo Hospital in Silvassa.
- Police status: Case registered as accidental death; questioning of family and acquaintances ongoing.
- Public demand: Calls for high fencing and preventive measures at Rakholi Bridge.
Facts recorded so far
The core facts confirmed by police and hospital officials are summarised below.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Rakholi Bridge, Silvassa–Khanvel road |
| Victims | Bhumika Shankarbhai Dodiya (17) — deceased; Rejina Arvindbhai Dhappasa (16) — critical |
| Injury details | Severe head and body trauma for the injured girl; deceased pronounced on arrival at hospital |
| Police action | Case registered as accidental death; inquiries under way |
Local residents said previous incidents at the bridge have raised long-standing safety concerns. Any administrative or engineering response — such as the erection of barriers, deployment of surveillance or periodic patrolling of the site — would be decided by the district administration in consultation with road and public-safety authorities.
Investigations into the immediate circumstances that led both teenagers to leap from the bridge are continuing. Police indicated further updates would be issued as inquiries progress and more evidence is gathered from witnesses and family members.
