A month after the collapse of the old bridge on the Kali River in Karwar, the process of clearing the debris finally started on Monday. A demolition machine from Mumbai has been brought in to clear the portion of the bridge on the Kodibag side. As per expert advice, the uncollapsed section of the bridge, which is in a dilapidated state, will be cleared first.
The clearance process is expected to take at least three months, and sophisticated machinery, including a barge with a crane, will be needed to complete the task. However, the dumping site for the waste has not been finalised yet.
In a related development, a search operation is set to begin in two days to locate a missing lorry and three people who were swept away in a landslide disaster at Shirur in Ankola Taluk. A mounted crane barge from Goa will be used to clear the mud and stone pile in the Gangavali River, but a suitable environment is needed to bring the barge to the site.