The Mahad MIDC fire station officer, who received the accident call, claims that the fire station got the first call about the bridge collapse at around 11.38 pm.
Also read - <a href="http://www.mid-day.com/articles/bridge-collapse-faulty-e-ticket-system-leaves-passenger-count-a-mystery/17496157" target="_blank">Mumbai-Goa highway bridge collapse: Faulty e-ticket system leaves total passenger count a mystery</a>
<img title="A rescue team heads out to rescue survivors" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2016/aug/Rescue-team-a.jpg" alt="A rescue team heads out to rescue survivors" />A rescue team heads out to rescue survivors
Manish Sawant (30) said, &ldquo;The call was about the bridge washing away. A team reached the spot within five minutes. We also carried ropes necessary accessories. We then informed the local municipal authorities and with the help of the police, managed the traffic.&rdquo;
Also read - <a href="http://www.mid-day.com/articles/bridge-collapse-family-friends-of-missing-people-hoping-against-hope/17496175" target="_blank">Mumbai-Goa highway bridge collapse: Family, friends of missing people hoping against hope</a>
<img title="Fire officer Manish Sawant was the first responder to the tragedy. Pics/Pradeep Dhivar" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2016/aug/Manish-Sawant-a.jpg" alt="Fire officer Manish Sawant was the first responder to the tragedy. Pics/Pradeep Dhivar" /> Fire officer Manish Sawant was the first responder to the tragedy. Pics/Pradeep Dhivar
Sawant claims that his team was at the spot, but due to zero visibility, couldn&rsquo;t do anything. &ldquo;We were informed that two buses and three other vehicles had fallen in, but here was no visibility. There were no streetlights either and the water level was high. It was only when were 10 metres away from the site that we got eyes on the collapsed bridge. A rescue operation in such a situation was not possible at all. We had the rope, but in the heavy flow of water, it wouldn&rsquo;t be very useful. Also, at 1:30 am, we couldn&rsquo;t risk going in as it was high tide,&rdquo; added Sawant.
Also read - <a href="http://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-goa-bridge-collapse-the-men-who-watched-the-horror-unfold/17496168" target="_blank">Mumbai-Goa bridge collapse: The men who watched the horror unfold</a>
Sawant says he then contacted higher authorities, who also suggested that he shouldn&rsquo;t risk sending in ill-equipped firemen. &ldquo;Sending men on field is a difficult call to make, so we followed the instructions of our higher ups. We then waited for NDRF team, which only reached the spot at 9 am. Till then, we tried our best to look around the boundaries with torches and see if we could help and rescue someone,&rdquo; added Sawant.
Also read - <a href="http://www.mid-day.com/articles/british-era-bridge-on-mumbai-goa-highway-washed-away-in-flood-28-missing/17495189" target="_blank">British-era bridge on Mumbai-Goa highway washed away in flood, 28 missing</a>

Fire officer says they got the call at 11.38 pm, but due to zero visibility and high water levels, they were asked to stand down and wait for NDRF personnel

Bridge collapse: No rescue operation was possible, says fire official

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Bridge collapse: No rescue operation was possible, says fire official

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