A 41-year-old bridge over the Kali River in Karwar, Uttara Kannada district, collapsed on Wednesday around 2:00 AM, causing a lorry to plunge into the river. The lorry driver, who is from Tamil Nadu, was rescued by the police and local fishermen and is currently undergoing treatment at Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital.
Following the incident, the Deputy Commissioner of Uttara Kannada district has requested the National Highway Authority of India to inspect the new bridge immediately, especially given the continuous heavy rains that may have contributed to the collapse of the old structure.
Superintendent of Police (Karwar), M Narayana, detailed the rescue operation, explaining that the night patrol team spotted the collapse and alerted higher authorities. "Our night patrolling team noticed the collapsed bridge and alerted the control room. There was a truck in the river, and the injured driver was on top of the vehicle. The local fishermen, along with our team, managed to rescue the driver," Narayana said, according to a report on PTI. He added that the driver is in stable condition and recovering.
In response to the incident, traffic on the new bridge was temporarily halted for inspection. After ensuring its stability, vehicles, except heavy ones, were allowed to pass through, according to Karwar police. Goa's Canacona police station in-charge Harish Raut Desai confirmed that traffic movement on the new bridge was restricted as Karnataka authorities conducted safety checks following the old bridge's collapse.
An FIR has been registered in connection with the incident, as authorities investigate the cause and ensure the safety of the remaining infrastructure.
However, the collapse of the old bridge which was primarily used for one-way traffic due to the construction of a new adjacent bridge has raised concerns about infrastructure safety in the area.
ALSO READ: 'Declare Wayanad Landslides A National Disaster': Rahul Gandhi Urges Centre In Lok Sabha