Mahabaleshwar-Poladpur Road Accident: Challenges in Rescue operation

NP NEWS NETWORK

The total distance between Poladpur and Mahabaleshwar is 22 Kms which witnessed the massive incident of accident on Saturday morning and became the deadly picnic for 30 passengers travelling in a private bus.

The passengers were on their way to Mahabaleshwar, a hill station in Satara district, for a picnic, when the driver lost control over the vehicle while negotiating a turn and fell into the gorge.

The is no safety wall built on the ghat area.

Only one of them made it to life from this dreadful accident. The name of the soul survivor is Prakash Sawant Desai. The bus drifted 3 times in the valley and at last stuck at the height of 250ft.

This tremendous accident occurred in the 800ft deep valley of Ambenali where the Konkan – Western Maharashtra road has been blocked by the police investigators.

The rescue operation was started with the help of Mahabaleshwar’s skilled trekkers. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team reached late at 4.30pm to the spot. Arrangements of ropes done by NDRF team was improper. They didn’t have rope which could have helped them to sneak down into 800ft deep valley.

100 policeman were deployed on the spot for emergency service. Dead-bodies are being carried out with the help of crane.

Maharashtra government announces an compensation money of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of those who died in the accident.

PM Narendra Modi expressed condolences at the loss of lives due to a bus accident. The PMO tweeted condolence message, “Pained by the loss of lives due to a bus accident in Maharashtra’s Raigad district. My condolences to those who lost their loved ones.”

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the administration was trying to provide all the necessary assistance. Fadnavis said he was pained to know about the loss of lives in the accident.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, Dhananjay Munde said the accident was very unfortunate. “I pay my homage to those who perished,” he said.

Fadnavis tweeted, “Administration taking all efforts to provide the required assistance. Senior officials & emergency management systems in place”.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi also expressed sorrow over the accident.