The Kodibag bridge spanning the Kali River, which connects Karnataka and Goa in Uttara Kannada district, collapsed early Wednesday morning around 2 am, according to Uttara Kannada Superintendent of Police Narayan M. A Tamil Nadu-based truck that fell into the river during the collapse was rescued.
The bridge, which had been in place for 41 years, gave way in three stages. The first collapse occurred when the truck fell into the river, followed by the remaining sections giving way within the next 10 minutes, Narayan reported.
The driver of the truck, identified as 37-year-old Balu Murugan from Yashapatti town in Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu, was promptly taken to a hospital. The truck, registered under TN 36-B 9997 and owned by SSM Transport Company, was returning from a delivery in Goa.
Narayan described the rescue: “The river was about 10 feet below the bridge. Driver Murugan broke the truck’s windshield, climbed onto the engine, and called for help. Police, assisted by coast guard personnel, managed to rescue him and transport him to the government hospital in Karwar.”
In response to the incident, traffic on a newly constructed low-level bridge over the same river, linking Karwar and Sadashivagad, was halted from Wednesday morning. “Traffic within the district and between Karnataka and Goa has not been significantly impacted, as alternative routes are available,” the SP noted.
To prevent further issues, police have been stationed at all district bridges to manage traffic and avoid overloading. “We are limiting the number of vehicles on the bridges to prevent any additional incidents,” Narayan added.
The truck driver reported no other vehicles on the bridge at the time of the collapse. A thorough search of 10 kilometers downstream found no additional vehicles or people in the river. “We conducted a thorough search and found no further evidence,” confirmed SP Narayan.
Deputy Commissioner Lakshmi Priya, who visited the site, has halted vehicle movement on the newly constructed bridge and requested a stability report. “I have asked the NHAI regional officer in Bengaluru and the project director in Honnavar to assess the condition and stability of the new bridge,” she stated.
Priya also mentioned that Murugan is recovering and will return home once he is fit. Despite reduced rainfall, the Kali River remains swollen, and the district administration is on alert for potential flooding.
Karwar town police have initiated suo motu cases against IRB Infrastructure and NHAI for negligence. “The IRB failed to stop traffic as instructed, prompting us to file cases against them,” Priya said.
Uttara Kannada MP Vishveshwar Hegde Kageri commented, “It’s fortunate the bridge collapsed at night; otherwise, the consequences could have been far more severe.”
