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  Bridge collapse: NDRF locates wreckage of buses

Bridge collapse: NDRF locates wreckage of buses

AGE CORRESPONDENT
Published : Aug 12, 2016, 2:35 am IST
Updated : Aug 12, 2016, 2:35 am IST

A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team on Thursday spotted the wreckage of the two buses, which were washed away in the Savitri River near Mahad after a British-era bridge collapsed on August

Four teams of NDRF located two buses submerged in water at Mahad on Thursday. (Photo: Asian Age)
 Four teams of NDRF located two buses submerged in water at Mahad on Thursday. (Photo: Asian Age)

A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team on Thursday spotted the wreckage of the two buses, which were washed away in the Savitri River near Mahad after a British-era bridge collapsed on August 2. The Navy divers traced the buses some 200 meters away from the Mahad Bridge. The team officials informed that they did not find any body in the buses and work is still on to trace 16 more bodies from the spot.

According to NDRF officials, “After working 12-14 hours a day for the last eight days, the Naval teams located the wreckage of the bus submerged in water at Mahad. Four teams of NDRF officials were working since morning to fish out the bus parts.”

NDRF officials said, “The bus was found 200 meters away from the collapsed bridge and 50 meters inside the bank of the river. The upper part of the bus and windows were all broken. The bus could have turned turtle due to the flow of water and fell amidst rocks. This could have damaged the upper portion of the bus.”

Officials further added, “At the time of incident the water level at the Savitri river was 35 feet. We could spot the buses and pull them out with a crane only when the water level dropped down to 17 feet today.”

A defence spokesperson said that spot diving was carried out despite the presence of crocodiles, high current and tough conditions in the river.

The Indian Navy team comprising personnel specialising in diving have been searching for the wreckage and survivors since the morning of August 4.

The effort was in response to a request received from the state government for undertaking search along the river for survivors and bodies, he said.