Mahad bridge collapse: How efforts to find survivors are fading?

Rescue efforts marred by bad weather, strong currents, even as 14 bodies are fished out

Even as intense rescue efforts are underway on Savitri river near Mahad — the site of the bridge collapse on Mumbai-Goa highway — hopes of finding survivors may be fading away. Torrential rains, strong river current, to name a few, are said to be the reasons hampering the efforts.  

The rescue operations have entered the second day and about 14 bodies have been recovered so far. The number of missing was estimated around 28, which could rise as information on private vehicles and people is still not clear. The rescue team consists of people from NDRF, the Coast Guard, the Indian Navy, rafters and scuba divers. 

Meanwhile, the state government has announced a judicial probe into the accident. 

Torrential rains continue to lash large parts of Maharashtra, including the site where the rescue operations are underway. With heavy rains forecast for the next few days, it is likely that these activities may get further hampered

Another major issue that is making tracing victims next to impossible is the strong currents in the Savitri river. 

The fact that the driver of the State Transprot (ST) bus was found 120 kms away, near Dapoli, is proof to the strength of these currents. It is possible that survivors, if any, or bodies may have flown in any direction possible. 

Few others bodies were also recovered from places that were atleast 20-40 kms away from the accident site.  

Officials monitoring the situation also say that torrential rains have lead to increase in water levels in the river. 

Usually, the depth of the water is around 25 feet. However, with the continuous rains that have lashed the area, the depth has gone up to 60 feet, making it extremely tough for rescue team to search for any trace of vehicle or people. 

Muddy waters are hampering visibility for scuba divers and other rescue teams to search for bodies in the river itself. A team of divers and NDRF personnel are said to be searching for bodies or survivors in the river. 

According to multiple reports, the presence of crocodiles in the river is making divers move away from the search area as well. However, a report in The Times of India also said that the divers were using noise bombs to keep them away.