Search for 20 feared dead after India bridge collapse

AFP, MUMBAI: Rescuers were searching Wednesday for 20 people missing and feared dead after two buses plunged into a fast-flowing river in western India when a bridge collapsed in torrential monsoon rain, officials said.
Emergency workers pulled two bodies from the rain-swollen river but were still searching for the others feared swept downstream following the accident south of Mumbai overnight on Tuesday. Television footage showed large chunks of the British-colonial era bridge had fallen into the Savitri river, but there was no sign of the vehicles in the water.
The bridge is about 170 kilometres (105 miles) from Mumbai along a major highway connecting India’s financial capital with the tourism state of Goa.
“Two bodies have been recovered by rescue agencies. We are trying to ascertain their identities and the (rescue) operations are on,” Sanjay Patil, police superintendent of Raigad district where the accident occurred, told AFP.
More than 100 rescuers armed with diving and other specialist equipment were scouring the river, but their efforts were hampered by the fast current and incessant rain.
“The flow of currents is very strong, making it difficult to launch a full-scale search operation. We are looking for vehicles and bodies over a stretch of eight kilometres,” disaster management chief O.P Singh told AFP.
“Our team is equipped with deep divers and life-saving equipment,” he said.
The air force, navy and coastguard have deployed helicopters to survey the river, while television footage showed rescuers in inflatable dinghies trying to manoeuvre on the fast-flowing water.

Search for 20 feared dead after India bridge collapse

AFP, MUMBAI: Rescuers were searching Wednesday for 20 people missing and feared dead after two buses plunged into a fast-flowing river in western India when a bridge collapsed in torrential monsoon rain, officials said. Emergency workers pulled two bodies from the rain-swollen river but were still searching for the others feared swept downstream following the accident south of Mumbai overnight on Tuesday. Television footage showed large chunks of the British-colonial era bridge had fallen into the Savitri river, but there was no sign of the vehicles in the water. The bridge is about 170 kilometres (105 miles) from Mumbai along a major highway connecting Indias financial capital with the tourism state of Goa. Two bodies have been recovered by rescue agencies. We are trying to ascertain their identities and the (rescue) operations are on, Sanjay Patil, police superintendent of Raigad district where the accident occurred, told AFP. More than 100 rescuers armed with diving and other specialist equipment were scouring the river, but their efforts were hampered by the fast current and incessant rain. The flow of currents is very strong, making it difficult to launch a full-scale search operation. We are looking for vehicles and bodies over a stretch of eight kilometres, disaster management chief O.P Singh told AFP. Our team is equipped with deep divers and life-saving equipment, he said. The air force, navy and coastguard have deployed helicopters to survey the river, while television footage showed rescuers in inflatable dinghies trying to manoeuvre on the fast-flowing water.