On Wednesday, August 12, 2024, the Kali River bridge collapsed early in the morning, causing significant disruptions on National Highway 66, which connects Goa and Karnataka. The incident, which occurred around 1 a.m., involved a truck that fell into the river. The driver was fortunately rescued by local fishermen, as reported by a police official from Karwar, Karnataka.
The old Sadashivgad bridge, which had been used for Goa-bound traffic since the construction of a new bridge a decade ago, was in use at the time of the collapse. Following the incident, traffic on the new bridge was temporarily halted to assess its stability. Initially, only light vehicles were allowed to pass through, while heavy vehicles were barred from crossing.
Authorities in Karnataka promptly began inspecting the new bridge for damage and stability. Traffic movement on the new bridge was restricted during this period. Harish Raut Desai, the in-charge of Goa’s Canacona police station, indicated that the Goa police are working closely with their Karwar counterparts to monitor and manage the situation on the highway, aiming to restore normalcy as soon as possible.
