12 Goans among 37 killed
GERARD DE SOUZA
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
KHED (Maharashtra): Heart-rending scenes amidst utter shock, were witnessed at Khed municipal hospital and morgue, as confused officials and relatives scurried around to identify the 37 victims, 12 of who were Goans, in one of the worst bus tragedy on the Mumbai-Goa highway, that shocked Goa and Maharashtra on a mournful early Tuesday morning.
The luxury bus called ‘Mahakali’ plummeted at least 40 feet off a narrow bridge at Khed some 120 kms after Ratnagiri in a pre-dawn disaster. Eight of those who perished were Goans living in Goa, four were of Goan origin living in Mumbai and three were Rajasthanis living in Goa, while seven are believed to have survived among whom three are Goans.
Most of those who perished, succumbed to head injuries as the bus nosedived onto a hard rocky dry river bed and then turned turtle. The impact was such that the roof of the bus crushed the sleeping passengers. The bus was reduced to half its height as a result of the deadly impact.
This is not the first mishap to take place on the killer bridge with locals affirming that not too long ago a Maharashtra state transport bus fell into the same river killing dozens, later a Toyota Qualis MUV also fell at the same dreaded spot.
The safety of the bridge is long said to have expired with the British government already having written to the Khed municipality that the life of the bridge had expired.
With officials on the site yet to confirm how many of the passengers were actually on the bus, due to poor record keeping, the exact figure of those who have survived is yet to be ascertained.
The tragedy took place at around 3:15 am. Bystanders at the accident site, stated that the bus was first noticed by a passing motorcyclist who informed the police.
Speaking to Herald, DySP of Khed Dr Dipali Kale said the accident was a consequence of both the over-speeding by the driver, faulty road engineering and the poor condition of the bridge.
“The accident was first noticed by our patrolling vans and upon hearing the news, we rushed to the spot and immediately began rescue operations,” Kale said.
The luxury coach run by a private company was ferrying passengers from Margao to Mumbai and had reached Khed, 450 kilometres from the Goa border, when the tragedy occurred.
The bridge along the National Highway across the Jagbudi river and was constructed by the British more than a century ago. The narrow single lane bridge allows only one heavy vehicle to cross at a time.
Ironically, the bus driver survived without any major injuries and has been arrested and placed under police custody. He claimed that he swerved the ill vehicle to avoid an oncoming vehicle. However, the police are not willing to buy this.
“It is clear that he was over speeding. We are also probing the possibility of him being under the influence of alcohol. His blood sample has been sent for testing and we are awaiting results,” Kale said.
The driver, identified as Shantaji Kale, aged 35, will be produced before court on Wednesday.
Seven people are believed to have had a miraculous escape among them three Goans ~ Gaurish Parsekar from Bastora, Bardez, Antonette Mendes from Pomburpa and sister of deceased Patrick Mendes and Shivram Garudi from Vasco. All of them are seriously injured but none of them are critical.
Helpline numbers 7875756000, 0832-2225724, 0832-2223610; Khed (at site): 9822180375 Oswin Carvalho, Motor Vehicles Inspector, 9422390022 Minesh Tar, Motor Vehicles Inspector
