Truck driver falls into river as old bridge across the Kali near Karwar collapses

Truck driver saved after bridge collapse in Uttara Kannada, blame on NHAI, IRB, criminal case filed.

A driver along with his truck fell into the Kali river when a major bridge near Karwar in Uttara Kannada collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday. However, timely action by the police and local fishermen saved the life of the truck driver.

According to Superintendent of Police of Uttara Kannada Narayan M., a major portion of the bridge which connects Karwar with Goa collapsed at 1.50 a.m.

At the moment, the empty truck was crossing the bridge and it fell into the river. The 37-year-old driver Bala Murugan managed to come out of the truck and sat on a portion of it that was above the water.

According to Mr. Narayan, the night patrol staff from the Chittakula Police Station noticed the bridge collapse and alerted the control room.

They also noticed the driver sitting on top of the truck and with the help of the local fishermen, rescued him.

The driver, who suffered injuries, was immediately shifted to the Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences, he said. The driver is safe now.

Following the mishap, vehicular movement on the adjoining new bridge was also stopped and vehicles were diverted via alternative routes.