SHASHWAT GUPTA RAY
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PANJIM: Nearly eight crucial hours were lost in searching for the Zuari Bridge accident survivors as the Goa civil authorities sought help of Navy divers for search and rescue at 7.55 am even though the tragic mishap occurred at around 1 am.
“We received call for help from civil authorities at 0755 hrs (7.55am),” Navy sources told Herald.
They further stated that “a team of 15 Navy divers led by Capt M Subramanian, OIC, Clearance Diving Unit, of Goa Naval Area, responded to the request from the civil authorities for diving effort to locate and help salvage the wreckage of a car post the unfortunate incident of the vehicle falling into the Zuari River”.
The first team comprising of 5 divers left the base at 8.30 am and reached the spot at 9 am. The second team of 10 divers reached at 9.30 am. Extensive search was carried out till 1pm.
“Post extensive effort by diving team and in coordination with the civil authorities, the vehicle was retrieved with the bodies of all four occupants and handed over to the local police,” Navy sources informed.
The question is what took the government authorities so long to seek Navy’s help? The entire delay puts a serious question mark on the State’s emergency response system, especially at wee hours.
