Massive search on; 2 bodies found; Centre to provide all help
MUMBAI / NEW DELHI / AMN
An old bridge on Mumbai-Goa highway collapsed midnight, causing a major mishap. Nearly a dozen vehicles, including two State Transport buses travelling through the bridge were reportedly flown away with the water current. The State Transport buses were travelling between Jaigad-Mumbai and Rajapur-Borivali.
National Disaster Response Force, NDRF team has begun search operation for missing vehicles and their passengers in Raigadh district where a bridge collapsed over Savitri River.
Coast guard team has also begun aerial search. A Sea King 42B helicopter on another mission is also diverted for search.
Centre has promised all possible assistance to Maharashtra government in the search operation for missing vehicles and their passengers in Raigadh district where a bridge collapsed following heavy rains. Informing the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour about the incident, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, four teams of NDRF along with 12 boats have been immediately rushed to the spot.
He said, two helicopters of Armed forces have also been pressed into service to scale up the rescue operation. Mr. Singh said, the state government has taken all necessary steps to search the missing people and officials have reached the spot.
Exact number of affected people is still unknown. According to officials, two bodies have been recovered so far. District Collector Sheetal Ugale-Teli and Police superintendent Suvez Haque were present at the spot.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, he is monitoring the situation. He had spoken to Raigad SP and Collector about the mishap. Both the houses of state legislature also discussed the issue. Minister for transport Diwakar Raote had confirmed that 2 ST buses were washed away. He also provided details of the rescue operation.
Maharashtra Governor Vidyasagar Rao has expressed grief over the loss of life caused due to the bridge collapse. The primary reason behind the collapse seems to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri due to heavy rain in catchment of Mahabaleshwar.
According to local police, the mishap took place around 12.30 a.m. Traffic on Mumbai-Goa highway was completely stalled throughout the night, which was installed in the morning. 1077 is the toll free number for enquiry related to passengers in the buses.
Meanwhile the Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today sought a judicial probe into the Mahad tragedy, where at least 22 people in two buses were swept away after a British-era bridge collapsed on the Mumbai-Goa Highway.
Raising the issue in the State Assembly, former CM Prithviraj Chavan said a judicial probe should be conducted and action should be taken against those guilty of allowing the old bridge to remain open for traffic.
“The life of the bridge, built by the British, had ended after completion of 100 years. Despite this, an officer certified in May that the bridge was good for traffic. A case against 302 IPC should be filed against that officer,” former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said.