Maha rains: Vehicles swept away as bridge collapses

Mumbai: Several vehicles are feared to have been swept away in the Savitri River in Konkan region as a bridge at Mahad on the Mumbai-Goa Highway collapsed late last night, bringing traffic to a halt.

Two buses are missing and a few other vehicles are feared to have been swept away, Raigad District collector Sheetal Ugale said today.

Raigad SP Suvez Haque and Collector visited the spot where the bridge once stood.

Darkness had hampered operations, which resumed this morning.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said he is monitoring the situation.

"Spoke to Raigad SP and Collector about bridge collapse on Mumbai-Goa Highway. Administration has rushed to spot for rescue and immediate measures," Fadnavis said.

"There were two parallel bridges; one is a new bridge and one constructed during the British era. The old one collapsed," he said.

The primary reason seems to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri due to heavy rains in catchment of Mahabaleshwar, he said.

"Traffic on highway is stopped. Administration is ascertaining strength and stability of new bridge," he tweeted early today.

"There is no confirmed assessment about casualties," he said.