'Engineers to blame for Maharastra bridge tragedy'

Goa PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on Wednesday faulted government engineers for negligence which could have led to the collapse of a British era bridge over the Savitri river in Maharashtra.

As a result of the bridge collapse in the early hours of Wednesday, two buses and several vehicles were reported missing with at least 20 persons missing.

Speaking to reporters at the state legislative assembly complex, Dhavalikar said: "Negligence cannot be of the Maharashtra government. It is a department's mistake, engineers' mistake."

He was asked by reporters, if negligence on part of the Maharashtra government could have led to the major accident along the National Highway 17.

Dhavalikar also said that there were three major bridges in Goa's Bicholim, Sanvordem and Quepem areas which were constructed during the Portuguese era.

The minister also said that every bridge in Goa was being examined by engineers from his department every six months.

"As of today, we have no problem," Dhavalikar said.

At least two buses and several other vehicles went missing near Mahad city after a bridge on Savitri river collapsed on Wednesday due to torrential rains in the Konkan region.

The bridge is located on the NH-17 connecting Panvel, on the outskirts of Mumbai, and Goa.

--IANS

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