The fear of presence of crocodiles in the Zuari River hampered the rescue operations on Thursday late night, as Indian Navy divers and other rescue teams struggled to reach the deeper areas of the river.
Three people died after a dilapidated Portuguese-era bridge collapsed into the river on Thursday at Sanvordem. Officials said that Navy divers were facing a potential threat of crocodiles in the river and hence the rescue operation was called off at around 3.00 am on Friday.
“There is already no light and to make it worse the river has crocodiles in it. We had no idea about it, but the locals informed us about the same,” an official said.
However, he confirmed that during the rescue operation, which re-commenced on Friday morning, the divers have not come across crocodiles.
When contacted the forest officials said that they have no exact confirmation about the same but the locals have been complaining about it.
“The locals have seen crocodiles in the river. We don’t have exact confirmation. But based on the inputs of locals, especially those residing along the bank, we fear there are large numbers of crocodiles in the water,” forest official said.
