A bridge on the Mumbai-Goa highway linking Mahad and Poladpur collapsed in Ragad district in Konkan due to heavy rains in the early hours on Wednesday. Approximately 80 per cent of the bridge had collapsed. The collapse is likely to have been caused by the overflowing of Savitri river in Mahabaleshwar. Police say two to three vehicles carrying dozens of people plunged into the flooded river.
Police officer Sanjay Patil says rescuers have not seen the vehicles or any survivors hours after the bridge collapsed. O.P. Singh, chief of the state-run National Disaster Response Force, said 80 rescuers, including divers, rushed to the area but their efforts were being hampered by heavy rains. Singh said the first reports said at least two buses fell into the Savitri river flooded by heavy monsoon rains.
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12.30 pm: 2 bodies have been recovered so far, says Raigad district collector, Sheetal Ugale
11.37 am: A Seaking 42C all weather aircraft with diving team has been launched by the Navy and Seaking 42B helicopter on another mission was diverted to the area for search.
11.35 am: Coast Guard had launched a Chetak helicopter at about 8:15 AM for carrying out search for people who were swept away from bridge, confirms Navy.
10.20 am: NDRF teams have reached and carrying out search operations, massive search going on: Maharashtra CM on Mumbai-Goa highway bridge collapse
10.12 am: A bridge was washed out in a very unfortunate incident at Mahad in Raigad district: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis
10.00 am: Chetak Helicopter carries out search operation for missing vehicles
9.10 am: ICG launches Chetak Helicopter to carry out search operations for missing vehicles.
9.00 am: 2 buses with 22 people onboard, missing, says Raigad ASP Sanjay Patil.
8.40 am: Casualties yet to be ascertained; Rescue operations underway
8.00 am: NDRF sent 1 team comprising 50 men for relief operations
7.52 am: Primary reason seems to be high pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri due to heavy rains in catchment of Mahabaleshwar: Fadnavis
7.50 am: There were 2 parallel bridges,1 is new and 1 constructed during British era. The old one got collapsed: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis
7.45 am: Raigad Collector confirms that one way traffic has now resumed on the new bridge: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis
7.30 am: A Bridge collapsed on Mumbai-Goa highway at around 2 am today. Traffic stopped, rescue operations underway