Bridge on Mumbai-Goa highway collapses; 22 people and 2 buses missing

Twenty-two people — 18 passengers, two drivers and two conductors, are feared killed as the two State transport buses in which they were travelling were washed away when a bridge linking Mahad and Poladpur on the Mumbai-Goa highway in Raigad district in Konkan collapsed in heavy rain in the early hours of Wednesday.

The State transport department has appealed to the relatives of missing passengers to contact on helpline number (02141) 222118 and toll free nunber 1077.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has deployed a Chetak helicopter and a Sea King 42C all-weather aircraft with a diving team for a search operation. The ICG is also diverting another Sea King 42B helicopter to help with the mission, a defence spokesperson said.

National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) personnel have also been deployed for the search operation. Two 40-member NDRF contingents have been rushed to Mahad. Traffic on the Mumbai-Goa highway was disrupted and smaller vehicles were diverted via Mangaon and two other routes.