At least 22 people went missing after two state-run buses were swept away in flooded Savitri river when a British-era bridge collapsed on the Mumbai-Goa Highway near here in Raigad district. Two tourist buses and three cars are thought have fallen into the river, although neither the vehicles nor any of the victims had been fished out even 24 hours after the disaster struck.
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Update (1:20 pm): Another body of a male, aged around 25, has been found near Dadli. The body found near Kemburli is of Sampada Vaze (aged around 40) and the body found on Harihareshwar beach was of Shevanti Mirgal (aged 65). The operations resulted in the recovery of two bodies on Wednesday. According to National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), almost 80 rescuers and divers personnel have been sent for the search operation. NDRF groups have come to and doing search operations, the Maharashtra CM included.
“We faced a lot of problems due to inclement weather and darkness”. However, the chances of finding any survivors have become less.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, accompanied by PWD Minister Chandrakant Patil and Opposition leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil of the Congress, yesterday conducted an aerial survey of the area. The collapsing of the vehicle has led to washing away of few private vehicles including the bus with the passengers, two drivers, and two conductors. He was driving the Jaigad-Mumbai bus service of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC).
According to the police, the two missing buses, which were bound for Mumbai from Chiplun and Ratnagir, were carrying 11 persons each.
The bridge was about 5 km from Mahad town in Raigad District, Maharashtra, about 170 km south of Mumbai. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up Fadnavis and offered help in the rescue operations, while Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu ordered deployment of railway medical teams and other assistance. At the same time, the lashing rains continued and rendered the Coast Guard helicopters useless.
“The Indian Navy Seaking 42C, an all-weather aircraft with a diving team has been launched by the Navy”.
Incessant rains have been lashing the coastal Konkan, northern and western Maharashtra region since the past five days.
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“Traffic on highway is stopped”. The Bridge is across the river Savitri.
