Maharashtra bridge collapse: Centre rushes NDRF teams for rescue

New Delhi, Aug 3 (IANS) Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday informed the Lok Sabha that the two passenger buses and four other vehicles are feared to have been "swept away" following the collapse of a bridge in Maharashtra late on Tuesday.

Making a brief statement in the house after Shiv Sena member Vinayak Raut raised the issue during zero hour, the minister said the Central has rushed four National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams along with 12 boats and divers for rescue operations.

"This was an unfortunate incident. I would like to inform the members that last night at around 11.30 p.m. that the bridge over river Savitri near Mahad in Raigad district was swept away due to overflow of the river," Singh said.

"I have spoken to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis," he said, adding state government officials have also reached the spot and are supervising the relief and rescue operations.

At this "hour of crisis", the Centre will extend all cooperation and assistance to the state government on this, the minister added.

At least two buses with about 22 passengers were washed away in flood waters after a bridge collapse, an official said.

Incessant rains continue to lash the coastal Konkan, northern and western Maharashtra since past five days, with at least 10 persons losing their lives in rain-related incidents in the past 24 hours.