Two bodies fished out, 14 persons rescued and more could be still missing in the collapse of a dilapidated foot-bridge in Curchorem-Sanvordem town in South Goa, on late Thursday evening.
Though no official complaint has been lodged with local police for missing persons, officials do not rule out possibility of some persons missing.
A third body was recovered from the water — the body of youth Santosh Wandal (26) alias Basaaya whose alleged suicide in the waters had led to the mishap, said police on Friday evening. Nearly 50 onlookers had crowded on the bridge, leading to its collapse.
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Indian Navy, whose divers joined the rescue operation on Thursday night said that the search was resumed on Friday morning. Coastal police also was assisting in the search operations.
Crocodiles in the river are said to be creating a hindrance in the rescue efforts. “Chetak helicopters in search and rescue role airborne from Naval Air Station Hansa to search downstream. Terrain hilly and clouded," Indian Navy said in a statement on Friday.
According to Sub Divisional District authorities monitoring the search operations, one more body of Prakash Ekka (28), Jharkhand was fished out by divers early on Friday, taking the body count to two. On Thursday night immediately after the tragedy, the rescue teams had removed body of a truck driver, Basavaraj Malanavar (30), Bazarwada, Sangem, South Goa, which was hanging by the debris.
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The tragedy occurred after a crowd had assembled on the decades-old bridge to watch a person attempt a suicide bid late on Thursday.
South Goa Superintendent of Police S. Prabhudessai told reporters that multiple agencies including divers from the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guards, Drishti Lifesaving, a private lifeguard agency were on site trying to locate missing persons in the river.
The National Disaster Reform Force(NDRF), which arrived from Pune with a team of 40 with hi-tech divers, rubber boats, cameras, etc., joined the rescue operations on Friday evening.
"Efforts have resumed after a break last night. We are trying to establish how many people are missing by interviewing eye-witnesses," Mr. Prabhudessai said.
Meanwhile, the Police said that the search operations have been stopped on Friday evening. The NDRF team will stay here till tomorrow, said South Goa Collector Swapnil Naik.