CROCS STALL GOA BRIDGE COLLAPSE RESCUE WORK
Crocodiles in the Zuari river obstructed the rescue operation launched after a bridge collapsed in South Goa district of Goa several times on Thursday night. At least two people died and several others went missing after the bridge connecting Sanvordem and Curchorem villages gave way on Thursday.
PANAJI: River crocodiles are hampering the search for victims of Thursday’s bridge collapse in southern Goa, prompting authorities to deploy navy helicopters to locate the missing.
The run-down foot bridge along a concrete carriageway over the Sanvordem river gave way when a crowd of around 50 people gathered to watch fire services officials trying to stop a man from jumping into the water.
The accident killed three men, including migrant worker Santosh Vadal who tried to die by suicide. Another body was fished out by NDRF at around 5pm. Vadal’s body was found in deep waters of the Zuari river, where locals have spotted crocodiles. The corpse didn’t have any bite marks. The other two victims were 30-year-old Goa native Basavraj Malvankar and Prakash Ekka, 28, from Jharkhand.
The Navy, Coast Guard, Drishti, a rescue agency, and NDRF conducted searches on Friday. Helicopters joined the effort after divers reported crocodiles. “Separate patrol and lookout for crocodiles instituted. Chetak helicopters in search and rescue role... to search downstream. Terrain hilly and clouded,” the navy said. Rescue workers are worried about the missing as crocodiles might kill any survivor or eat corpses of those who drowned.