Mahad bridge collapse: Oppn seeks judicial probe

The Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today sought a judicial probe into the Mahad tragedy, where at least 22 people in two buses were swept away after a British-era bridge collapsed on the Mumbai-Goa Highway.
Raising the issue in the State Assembly, former CM Prithviraj Chavan said a judicial probe should be conducted and action taken against those guilty of allowing the old bridge to remain open for traffic.
"The life of the bridge, built by the British, had ended after completion of 100 years. Despite this, an officer certified in May that the bridge was good for traffic. A case against 302 IPC should be filed against that officer," former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said.

A case of IPC 302 should also be filed against PWD minister Chandrakant Patil, he said.
"How could a wrong audit of the bridge be conducted," the NCP leader asked.
"Why were warnings of the weather bureau ignored ? The state government is responsible for this tragedy," he said.

Minister for Public Works Eknath Shinde told reporters that a structural audit of all bridges in Maharashtra been ordered after today's tragedy.
(REOPENS BOM6)
Speaking on the Mahad tragedy in the Assembly, Leader of Opposition in the Lower House, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said the PWD department should take necessary measures to avert such incidents.

Speaker Haribhau Bagade directed PWD minister Chandrakant Patil to conduct an in-depth departmental inquiry.
The minister informed the House that a survey of British era bridges in Maharashtra would be conducted with the help of IIT.
Traffic on bridges deemed dangerous would be stopped, he said.