Kali River Bridge Collapses In Karwar, Authorities Scramble To Ensure New Bridge Safety

The old Kali River bridge connecting Karwar and Sadashivgad collapsed early this morning at 1:30 AM, leaving one person injured. However, there are no other casualties. This development has raised urgent concerns about the stability and safety of the new Kali River bridge. A truck crossing the bridge at the time fell into the water. Local fishermen later rescued its driver, a police official from Karwar in neighbouring Karnataka told PTI.

The Kali River Bridge, constructed over the Kali River in the city of Karwar in Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, was built in 1983. The bridge connects the state of Karnataka with Goa by road. Adjacent to this bridge is the Sadashivgad Fort, a popular tourist attraction known for its splendid view of the merging water bodies and the fort itself.

In response to the collapse, Smt. Lakshmipriya K, the District Magistrate of Uttara Kannada, has invoked sections 33 and 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. She has issued an order mandating immediate action to verify and ensure the stability of the new Kali River bridge to prevent any further incidents.

The Regional Officer of NHAI Bengaluru and the Project Director of NHAI Honnavara have been directed to coordinate and lead efforts to assess the structural integrity of the new bridge. A comprehensive stability report must be submitted by today, August 7, 2024, by 12:00 PM. The Project Director of NHAI Honnavara is responsible for ensuring compliance with this directive.

Failure to comply with this order will result in the invocation of provisions under sections 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, which include penalties for obstruction, resistance, or refusal to comply.

Traffic on Goa-Karnataka highway hit as Kali river bridge collapses

A bridge on the Kali river collapsed in the wee hours of Wednesday, resulting in heavy traffic on national highway no. 66 connecting Goa to Karnataka, officials said.

The bridge had been utilised for Goa-bound traffic since the construction of a new one a decade ago, the official stated.

Following the incident, traffic on the new bridge was halted for some time in the early hours of Wednesday. Later, the Karwar police allowed vehicles, except for heavy ones, to pass through.

Traffic on the new bridge was limited as Karnataka authorities assessed its stability following the collapse of the old bridge, according to Harish Raut Desai, in-charge of Goa's Canacona police station.

Goa police were coordinating with their Karwar counterparts to monitor the highway situation, he added.