Canacona/Karwar: Traffic on the Canacona-Karwar Highway was disrupted on Wednesday after the old bridge at Sadashivgad near Karwar collapsed. The District Magistrate has instructed the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to assess the stability of the new bridge before allowing the smooth flow of traffic.
Heavy vehicles have been halted at both ends of the bridge. Vehicles coming from Goa are being stopped at Canacona, while those from Karnataka are being stopped at Karwar.
The incident occurred at 1:30 PM on Wednesday when a truck was crossing the bridge. According to the fishermen who rescued the truck driver, the truck fell into the river, but the driver managed to escape to safety and was pulled out by locals. The possibility of other vehicles being submerged in the river is also being investigated by the Karwar police.
Meanwhile, Uttar Kannada District Magistrate Lakshmi Priya K. has ordered the NHAI to inspect the stability of the new bridge on the Kali River after the collapse of the parallel bridge last night. The bridge on National Highway 66 near Karwar town in Karnataka, which borders Goa, collapsed last night, causing a truck to fall into the river. The driver was rescued by local fishermen.
Following the incident, the Uttar Kannada District Administration has directed the NHAI to conduct a stability inspection of the existing bridge and submit a report by Wednesday afternoon.
The order issued by District Magistrate Lakshmi Priya K. under Sections 33 and 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, states that the collapse of the old Kali River bridge connecting Karwar and Sadashivgad on August 7, 2024, at 1:30 AM has highlighted the urgent need to verify and ensure the stability of the new bridge to prevent further incidents.
Therefore, exercising the powers vested in her under Sections 33 and 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the magistrate has directed the Regional Officer, NHAI Bengaluru, and the Project Director, NHAI Honnavara, to immediately coordinate efforts to verify and report on the stability of the new Kali River bridge connecting Karwar and Sadashivgad.
A stability report must be submitted by 12:00 PM on Wednesday. Compliance with this order shall be ensured by the Project Director, NHAI Honnavara.
Bridge on Kali river on Goa-Karnataka highway collapsed, traffic affected
