log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline MONDAY JUNE 16, 2025 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 359 3 2 Bridge collapses in Pune; 4 killed, several missing With eye on Margao, Goa Forward has task of overcoming BJP, Cong challenges GOA River Sal to be GIS-mapped to check pollution source n MANY TOURISTS SWEPT AWAY n 38 RESCUED, 18 CRITICAL n NDRF SWINGS INTO ACTION PTI PUNE At least four people died and several tourists were reportedly swept away after an iron bridge over the Indrayani River in Pune collapsed on Sunday afternoon. Officials said 38 persons were rescued while 18 were seriously injured in the incident. While two persons succumbed to injuries during treatment after being rescued, the bodies of two persons were recovered from underneath the collapsed portion of the bridge, officials said. “Two bodies were recovered from beneath the structure, we suspect one more person is trapped there. Efforts are underway to locate and rescue the person,” Talegaon Dabhade police station senior inspector Pradeep Rayannawar said late evening. The incident took place at Rescue operation underway after bridge on Indrayani River collapsed in Pune. 3:30 pm in Kundamala area, which has been seeing heavy rains over the past few days, giving the river a steady flow. It was not raining when the bridge collapsed in the presence of at least 100 picnickers, he added. “In the mishap, so far 38 people have been rescued of which 18 sustained serious injuries and they are under treatment in three hospitals. During treatment, two people succumbed to injuries,” a statement from the district administration informed. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force, a specialised unit to tackle such emergencies, as well as personnel from the fire brigade, police and local rescue organizations are involved in rescue and relief efforts, it added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently in Cyprus, spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and was briefed on rescue efforts after the Pune bridge collapse. Home Minister Amit Shah also condoled the Pune bridge collapse, spoke to Fadnavis and praised NDRF’s swift rescue efforts. Maharashtra Minister of Disaster Management Girish Mahajan, who was at the site monitoring rescue efforts, said the bridge collapsed under the weight of a large number of tourists. “The bridge was meant only for pedestrians and there was a warning board there stating that it cannot be used by two-wheelers. It seems people on the bridge did not pay heed to these instructions, which caused the incident,” Mahajan told reporters. Pollution norms: Industries to be re-tagged ‘BLUE’ TAG INTRODUCED FOR ESSENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI As many as 419 sectors-cum-industries are undergoing reclassification under Red, Orange, White, Green and Blue categories in Goa, with the introduction of “Blue” as a new category for so-called “essential environ- >> pg 6 Israel-Iran war among 6 main cues that may drive market trends IN SHORT >> Hundreds dead in Israel-Iran war TEL AVIV: Israel unleashed airstrikes across Iran for a third day on Sunday and threatened even greater force as some Iranian missiles evaded Israeli air defences to strike buildings in the heart of the country. At least 406 people have been killed in Iran, according to a human rights group. >> See pg 7 Constable drowns in Sirsaim quarry MAPUSA: A Sunday evening outing turned tragic for a group of friends when a police constable drowned while bathing in a quarry at Sirsaim. The deceased, identified as Akash Suresh Naik (35), was posted at the Porvorim Police Station and had recently been transferred to Calangute.  >> See pg 2 Push for iron ore activity at 3 blocks PANAJI: In a further push to iron ore mining industry, the Pollution Board has granted Consent to Establish iron ore activities at Cudnem Mineral Block (VII), Cudnem Mineral Block (VI) & Tivim-Pirna mineral block (VIII).  >> See pg 3 mental services” by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has initiated the exercise to prepare fresh inventory, which would be submitted to the Central authority by June 30 and would be updated annually, thereafter. Pending reclassifi- cation, the Board has kept on hold applications for grant of Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate. “The revised sectors/sub sectors classified as Red, Orange, White, Green and Blue, shall be used for consent management, inventorization of units under different categories, sitting criteria, decid- ing environmental surveillance frequency, calculation of environmental compensation, etc as per the guidelines issued time to time,” the Board approved during its recent meeting. The Board has said that wherever Consent to >Continued on P5 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Here is how eating nuts can prevent colon cancer Chopper crashes near Kedarnath shrine, 7 killed PTI UTTARAKHAND A helicopter carrying pilgrims from the Kedarnath shrine crashed Sunday in the forests of Gaurikund amid poor visibility, killing all seven people on board, the fifth helicopter accident on the Chardham Yatra route since the pilgrimage started on April 30. The Civil Aviation Ministry suspended operations of the helicopter operator and issued safety directions after the tragedy, which came just days after where an Air India flight to London crashed in Ahmedabad. The seven people on board the Bell 407 helicopter, operated by a private firm Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd, included a two-year-old child and the pilot. The Civil Aviation Ministry said it has suspended the operations of Aryan Aviation for the Char Dham Yatra and has directed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to immediately post officers from airworthiness, safety and operations to actively oversee all helicopter activity in the Kedarnath Valley. Preliminary indications suggest that the probable cause may be Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), with the helicopter reportedly airborne despite poor visibility and extensive clouding at the valley entry area, the ministry said in a statement. 9 SPORTS Want team culture where all are ‘secure and happy’: Gill 12 Heavy rainfall boosts water levels in dams across Goa SHARP RISE IN STORAGE AT SELAULIM, CHAPOLI, GAUNEM; ANJUNEM, AMTHANE REMAIN LOW THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The early onset of southwest monsoon and sustained heavy rainfall across the State has significantly improved water levels in several reservoirs. According to data from the Water Resources Department, the Selaulim dam – the primary source of water supply for South Goa, including major towns like Margao, Vasco, Quepem, and Sanguem – has witnessed a sharp rise in storage levels. From 37 per cent in mid-May, the reservoir now stands at 54 per cent. “If this rainfall trend continues, we may see an early spillover at Selaulim. This is encouraging for the water security of South Goa,” said a senior official from the Water Resources Department. Smaller dams have also recorded substantial gains. Chapoli dam in Canacona has reached 55 per cent of its storage capacity, while Gaunem dam, which caters to areas in Ponda taluka, has surged to 78 per cent. The Panchwadi dam currently holds 46 per cent of its capacity, a significant increase from the 25 per cent recorded last month. Anjuna without water for 5 days MAPUSA: A major fault in a 1000 mm diameter water pipeline in Guirim left the coastal village of Anjuna without piped water for nearly five days, causing widespread inconvenience to residents and businesses in the popular beach destination. The water shortage began earlier in the week, prompting residents to raise complaints with PWD after receiving no supply for consecutive days.  >> See pg 3 However, not all reservoirs have benefited equally. The Anjunem dam, which serves the Sattari region and parts of Bicholim, has seen a drop in water levels, plunging to just 10 per cent from 21 per cent in mid-May. Similarly, the Amthane dam – vital for Bardez, Pernem and surrounding areas – has dipped from 49 per cent to 31 per cent. “These variations are not unusual during the early phase of the monsoon. Some catchment areas receive rain later than others. But with the India Meteorological Department predicting a vigorous monsoon, we expect a turnaround in the coming weeks,” explained the official. The Tillari reservoir, which supplies both drinking and irrigation water to northern Goa and parts of Maharashtra, has remained stable at 25 per cent capacity since mid-May. With the monsoon expected to strengthen further, officials are hopeful that the lagging reservoirs will recover swiftly, ensuring adequate water supply across the State through the season.