Two more bodies of victims of the Mahad bridge were recovered on Sunday, raising the death toll in the tragedy to 26.
Two more bodies of victims of the Mahad bridge were recovered on Sunday, raising the death toll in the tragedy to 26.
Meanwhile, the search and rescue operations continued for the fifth consecutive day. Officials said most probably Monday would be the last day for the search operation, after which efforts to recover bodies would be most likely called off.
“During the ongoing rescue operations we have managed to recover two more dead bodies that has taken the death toll to 26. Also, all the 26 deceased have been identified,” said Suhas Diwase, director, state disaster management cell.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and coast guard officials on Saturday had located a signboard belonging to one of the missing state transport buses. However, according to a local, the officials also found another metal part of one of the state transport buses Sunday afternoon.
A defence spokesperson, said, “We have recovered a metal part Sunday evening and it most likely belongs to one of the state transport buses that plunged into the river, but nothing has been confirmed yet. The operations are ongoing and it is likely Monday will be the last day to carry out the search operation as in most instances, the search operation is called off after 72 hours of the accident.”
The 100-year-old bridge located on the Savitri River was washed away by its torrent Tuesday late night. Heavy rainfall in its Mahabaleshwar catchment area reportedly triggered the torrent that brought down the bridge. The excess flow of water weakened the structure of the bridge that gave way, plunging two state transport buses and a SUV into the water.
Mr Diwase said that, initially, 42 people were feared missing. However, the authorities have no information and clarity on a Honda City that is reportedly missing with four people inside. The official number of missing people for now stands at 38.
The NDRF and coast guard officials have used various techniques such as fish finders, heavy magnets and electronic sensors to trace the dead bodies and metal parts in the water.
