Bridge collapse on river causes major traffic disruption on busy highway in southern India
by Aditi VermaA bridge on the Kali River in southern India’s Karnataka, resulted in severe traffic congestion on National Highway No. 66, which links Goa and Karnataka. The incident occurred around 1 am, with a truck plunging into the river; however, the driver was rescued by local fishermen.
The incident took place on National Highway No. 66, which connects Goa and Karnataka in Sadashivgad on August 7.
Visuals showed the bridge had already split into two parts, and heavy rainfall was ongoing. A section of the bridge had fallen into the river, with its debris scattered in the water.
In the early hours of Wednesday an old bridge over the Kali River collapsed, leading to significant traffic disruptions on National Highway No. 66. The bridge, which had been in use for Goa-bound traffic after a new bridge was constructed a decade ago, gave way at approximately 1 am.
At the time of the collapse, a truck crossing the bridge fell into the river. Fortunately, the driver was rescued by local fishermen. The collapse prompted immediate traffic restrictions on the new bridge, with movement halted temporarily as Karnataka authorities assessed its stability. Subsequently, traffic was allowed to resume, but only light vehicles were permitted to pass.
The Goa police, in coordination with their counterparts in Karwar, are closely monitoring the situation to manage the flow of traffic and ensure safety. The incident has caused major delays, with vehicular movement on Ghodbunder Road also reported to be slow due to multiple incidents in the area.