Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: A woman tourist riding a two-wheeler sustained serious injuries after plunging off the unsafe Agonda box culvert bridge on Monday night.
The accident occurred when the tourist was attempting to cross the culvert bridge at Agonda. While riding across, the two-wheeler reportedly veered towards the extreme edge of the bridge and went over the unprotected wing wall, plunging into the waterless portion of the Agonda river during low tide.
The woman was found lying injured beside the damaged two-wheeler. Local residents, who rushed to the spot immediately after the incident, provided initial assistance and alerted emergency services. She was later shifted to the Canacona Community Health Centre (CHC) in a 108 ambulance for medical treatment.
Incidentally, the two-wheeler fell over the side wing walls that were erected as retaining structures near the bridge abutments to support the approach roads. However, these wing walls lack proper protective railings.
The box culvert bridge, constructed about two years ago, was opened to traffic even before the completion of approach roads on both sides. Though wing walls and railings were installed later, they cover only limited portions of the bridge. Large sections of the bridge and approach roads remain unfinished and without adequate safety barriers.
Local residents stated that the bridge was constructed after decades of demand to replace the earlier narrow and dilapidated footbridge—popularly known as the “Borim Bridge”—which was dangerously used by motorists. They alleged that the new bridge continues to pose a serious threat to motorists, pedestrians, and even stray cattle due to incomplete and shoddy work.
Blaming the Public Works Department (PWD) for negligence, locals have demanded immediate safety measures and urged the village panchayat to take responsibility for recurring mishaps on the bridge.
