Search for survivors continues after India flooding triggers deadly bridge collapse

By Eric Leister, Meteorologist

August 3,2016; 6:42PM,EDT

 

 

A major bridge on a Mumbai-Goa highway collapsed into the Savitri River early on Wednesday morning.
Two buses carrying 22 people were on the bridge at the time of the collapse and the buses have yet to be found in the raging floodwaters, according to CNN.
Two people have been found dead, while the search persists for the 20 remaining passengers, CNN reported.
This photo released by the public relations office of Indian Defence shows an old bridge that collapsed in a flooded river in western Maharashtra state, India, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. Two buses plunged into the river after the old bridge collapsed, an official said. (Indian Defence via AP)
"High pressure from the flooding Savitri River caused the bridge to collapse," Devandra Fadnavis Chief Minister of Maharashtra state said in a statement.
The India National Disaster Response Force has dispatched four teams of deep divers and equipment to the scene of the accident, according to their official Twitter page.
People watch the search operation in the flooded River Savitri after an old bridge collapsed in Mahad, western Maharashtra state, India, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Heavy rain has fallen across the area in recent days, causing already high river levels to surge. More than 500 mm (20 inches) of rain was recorded in Harnai, 30 miles to the southwest of the bridge collapse, since Sunday.
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"Rain is expected to continue across the area for the next several days," AccuWeather Meteorologist Rob Richards said.
"While locally heavy rain is possible, rainfall rates will vary during that time," Richards added.