ST bus gets stuck in flood waters, passengers rescued

Even when the incident of vehicles falling from a broken bridge and getting washed away in the floods of river Savitri in Mahad is still fresh in everyone's mind, another incident of a bus caught in flood waters in Navapur in Nandurbar district on Thursday has shocked all. Fortunately, in this case, all 17 passengers as well as the driver and conductor were saved.

Around 5.30am, the Jalna-Surat bus of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) was passing through Navapur town. The bridge over river Rangavali, which is in not good a condition, was closed for heavy vehicles and the lower bridge was under water. The river was flowing above its normal level due to heavy rainfall in the upper Awa Dang region.

The driver of the bus adventurously drove the bus on the bridge that was submerged under water. The bus, however, failed in the centre of the bridge and got stuck. The passengers panicked as they saw the waters in the river rising. Some locals, who saw the bus being stranded in the flooded river, informed the police. The administration with the help of locals put ropes on the bridge and pulled everyone in the bus to safety. The bus was also pulled out of water with the help of a JCB.

District collector Dr Mallinath Kalshetty and superintendent of police Rajendra Dahale visited the spot and ensured that all people were safe. After a preliminary review of the situation, the controller of Dhule depot of MSRTC suspended driver Rajesh Sabale who was held responsible for endangering the lives of 17 passengers.