Two people were killed and several others reported missing after a bridge connecting Sanvordem and Curchorem villages in South Goa district collapsed on Thursday afternoon. Around 35 people were rescued from the debris, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said.
The incident occurred when the victims were standing on the dilapidated bridge, to watch an operation to rescue a youth who allegedly jumped into the river to commit suicide.
Parrikar said that it was “tough to speculate” how many people were present on the bridge when the accident occurred.
How many are submerged we do not know. Some say it is 40-50 (persons) who were on the bridge, some say it around 30... But these are unconfirmed sources. Roughly it could be 40 odd.Manohar Parrikar, Goa Chief Minister
The Portuguese-era bridge across the river Sanvordem, a tributary of river Zuari, was closed to traffic for the last four years.
The police said around 20 people on the bridge swam to safety. Fourteen others were rescued and taken to nearby hospitals. Two bodies were retrieved from the river.
“More people are feared to have been trapped under the collapsed portion of the bridge,” a police officer said.
Divers from the Indian Navy and the Drishti Lifeguard Services, a private agency which provides lifeguards for the state’s beaches, were called in for the rescue operation.
A Navy spokesperson said nine Navy divers with Geminis boats have been rushed to Curchorem. The rescue operation is expected to continue through the night.
PWD minister Sudin Dhavalikar who rushed to the site said the bridge was closed for use for the last four years.
“People who were keen on witnessing the rescue operation for a youth who had jumped into the river to commit suicide removed the barricades on the bridge,” he said.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said he spoke to Parrikar following the bridge collapse reports.
(With inputs from IANS)