KARWAR: A 40-year-old bridge across Kali River, a crucial link between Karwar and Goa on NH-66, collapsed early Wednesday morning.
The bridge caved in around 1.30am. Though no casualties were reported, in the collapse, a truck driver Bala Murugan (37) from Tamil Nadu landed in the river along with his vehicle. He was stranded on the bonnet of the vehicle. "Fishermen in the vicinity along with our team rescued the driver. The truck was stuck atop a part of the carriageway that had collapsed," said superintendent of police (Karwar) M Narayana.
Murugan was admitted to Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital, where he is recovering. A new bridge built alongside during the expansion of NH-66 will help mitigate traffic disruptions. "Only light vehicles will be allowed on the new Kali bridge while suspending the movement of heavy vehicles temporarily," a statement from Karwar SP said. An official letter has been sent to the National Highways Authority of India to check the strength of the new bridge immediately.
Sources: Repair team certified bridge fit for use The old bridge had been closed by the district administration in 2011 due to concerns that it might collapse at any time. Despite expert recommendations to close it due to its weakened state, pressure from the public led to its reopening after minor repairs. The repair team had difficulty locating the bearings of the bridge, but they certified it as fit for use, said sources.
The failure of the structure is believed to be the result of damage sustained from the frequent movement of heavy equipment for building of nuclear power plants at Kaiga.
The bridge, situated at the confluence of Kali River and Arabian Sea, was known for its picturesque setting. It was inaugurated in 1982 and had collapsed when it was under construction.
An FIR has also been registered over the bridge collapse.
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