Search for Goa footbridge collapse victims called off

Possibility of recovering more bodies bleak, say officials; safety audit of old bridges planned

The Goa administration late on Friday called off the search operations launched on Thursday following the collapse of an ageing footbridge across the Sanvordem river.

While the rescue teams recovered two bodies on the night of the incident, a third was found on Friday evening. According to the police, the last was that of the man who had jumped into the river to commit suicide.

The bridge had collapsed under the weight of crowds who gathered on it to watch the attempt to rescue him. The Portuguese-era bridge has been closed for traffic for the last four years.

“The district administration withdrew the search and rescue operation last evening. There seems to be no possibility of finding more bodies there,” Superintendent of Police (South) Shekhar Prabhudesai said on Saturday.

The multi-agency search and rescue operation involved personnel of the State police, the Navy, the National Disaster Response Force and Drishti Lifesaving Services, a private agency.

Two persons had drowned in the accident, while around 20 others had swam to safety. Fourteen people were also rescued.

After the incident, the Goa government had announced that all “dilapidated and unsafe” bridges in the State would be dismantled after a review.

“The government will also carry out a safety audit of bridges and those which are found unsafe and not used by commuters would be dismantled,” Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai told reporters on Friday.