In a shocking incident, two Maharashtra state transport buses carrying 22 people have gone missing.
According to the officials, the vehicles swept away in the Savitri River in Konkan region as an old bridge collapsed at Mahad due to which traffic came to halt.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis tweeted on Wednesday “two buses of state transport with 18 passengers, two drivers and two conductors have gone missing in the Mahad tragedy.”
Fadnavis, who is monitoring the situation closely since morning said, "There were two parallel bridges; one is a new bridge and one constructed during the British era. The old one collapsed.The primary reason seems to be the high pressure caused due to flooding of river Savitri due to heavy rains in catchment of Mahabaleshwar.”
"Spoke to Raigad SP and Collector about bridge collapse on Mumbai-Goa Highway. Administration has rushed to spot for rescue and immediate measures," Fadnavis said.
"Traffic on highway is stopped. Administration is ascertaining strength and stability of new bridge," he tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Fadnavis today and was briefed about the bridge collapse. Fadnavis said “the PM offered all help in rescue and relief operations," 
NDRF teams are already activated, he tweeted. The Coast Guard has deployed a Chetak helicopter to carry out search for people who were swept away from the bridge.
Soon after the incident, Raigad SP Suvez Haque and Collector also visited the spot.
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BY M. DIVYA SRI
