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| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Aug 03, 2016, 09:24 PM IST
At least two persons drowned and 20 others are missing as two buses swept away in swollen Savitri River after a British-era bridge collapsed on the Mumbai-Goa Highway near Mahad in Maharashtra's Raigad district.
Rescuers fished out bodies of two men from the river and an intense search is on to trace those missing, Raigad district collector Sheetal Ugale said at the mishap spot, 170 Km from Mumbai.
Teams of disaster management force has joined the Coast Guard and other agencies engaged in rescue and relief operations.
Two state transport buses with 18 passengers and four crew members had gone missing in the Mahad tragedy, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said in a tweet.
The buses include one travelling between Jaigad-Mumbai and another Rajapur-Borivali. District Collector Sheetal Ugale-Teli and Police superintendent Suvez Haque are present at the location.
Taking to micro-blogging site, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "Spoke to Raigad SP & Collector about bridge collapse on Mumbai-Goa highway. Administration has rushed to spot for rescue and immediate measures."
He further added, "There were two parallel bridges: One is a new bridge and one constructed during the British era. The old one got collapsed. The primary reason seems to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri due to heavy rains in catchment of Mahabaleshwar,"
There is no confirmed assessment about casualties since the area is very dark.
Administration will ensure speedy rescue & relief operations. — Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 2, 2016
The Chief Minister also said that there is no confirmed assessment, adding, "Administration will ensure speedy rescue & relief operations."
CM @Dev_Fadnavis in Mahad inspecting rescue operations of collapsed bridge and interacting with officials. pic.twitter.com/ZPjSTEBszC
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) August 3, 2016
CM @Dev_Fadnavis in Mahad doing the aerial survey of the bridge collapse tragedy. pic.twitter.com/bropHcaZYi
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) August 3, 2016
# Four teams of NDRF, comprising 40 deep-divers in each, have joined the Coast Guard and other agencies engaged in rescue and relief operations and are scouring the mishap site.
# Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has also asked Konkan Railway to render necessary assistance to the state government in the rescue operations.
Link of CM @Dev_Fadnavis' statement on the Mahad bridge collapse tragedy on Mumbai - Goa highway (Raigad dist) https://t.co/dOmXWobVmM
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) August 3, 2016
HM Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha
# Four NDRF teams comprising 115 personnel including divers along with 12 boats were immediately rushed to Maharashtra bridge collapse site.
# Centre stands with Maharashtra Govt in this hour of crisis and assures all possible help.
Two bodies have been recovered so far, says Raigad district collector, Sheetal Ugale
Book PWD minister Chandrakant Patil for murder, demands Ajit Pawar
Raising the issue in the State Assembly, former CM Prithviraj Chavan said a judicial probe should be conducted and action 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 CM Ajit Pawar said.
A case of IPC 302 should also be filed against PWD minister Chandrakant Patil, he said.
"How could a wrong audit of the bridge be conducted," the NCP leader asked.
#WATCH: NDRF team reaches site of bridge collapse on Mumbai-Goa highway in Raigad, to carry out search operationshttps://t.co/aB7MNLnRul
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 3, 2016
Visuals of Indian Navy aircraft carrying out search operations at the site of bridge collapse in Raigad
PM Narendra Modi spoke to Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis & took all details of Mahad incidence.
He also offered all help in rescue and relief operations, tweeted CMO.
Pictures from the spot of bridge collapse on Mumbai-Goa highway in Raigad.
Two buses with 22 people onboard, missing, says Raigad ASP Sanjay Patil.
