Naval divers on Saturday located the wreckage of the second bus which had been washed away in the Savitri river near Mahad in Raigad district when a British-era bridge collapsed on August 2.
Navy spokesperson, Commander Rahul Sinha, said in a statement that following the recovery of the wreckage of first bus on August 11, around 200 meters from the site of the collapse, search operations were continued downstream. The wreckage of the second bus was located 400 meters from the bridge in an area where there are strong currents. “The wreckage is recoverable. NDRF teams are being informed and a crane for recovery is being requested,” Commander Sinha said.
The Indian Navy team comprising personnel specialising in diving was searching for the wreckage and survivors since the morning of August 4, braving high water current and crocodile hotbeds in the river.
So far, 26 bodies have been recovered and 16 are still feared missing following the tragedy on the Mumbai-Goa highway. Meanwhile, Sanjay Patil, Additional SP of Raigad police said, “The local MIDC Mahad police has registered a case of accidental death of 26 people whose bodies have been recovered.”
