BICHOLIM
A driver was rescued when a car plunged into the river near the Sarmanas ferry wharf at Pilgao-Bicholim on Monday evening.
According to reports, the incident took place at about 4 pm, when the ferry boat ‘Dharbandora’, which was transporting vehicles and passengers from St Estevam, reached the ferry wharf at Sarmanas-Pilgao.
The driver, hailing from Mapusa but residing in Pilgao, began to reverse his car when the vehicle suddenly stopped at the ferry wharf and then began to slide into the river near the ferry boat.
The sight of the car suddenly sliding into the river caused commotion among other passengers and motorists at the site.
A ferry crew member, Shubham Phadte, jumped into the river and swam towards the car, managing to pull the driver out of the partially submerged vehicle. Phadte then handed him a lifebuoy from the ferry boat and brought him safely to the wharf. Phadte’s act of bravery was widely appreciated by onlookers.
The Bicholim police and fire station were notified about the incident. A fire brigade led by fire officer Rahul Desai and a police team led by PSI Amarnath Palani went to the site.
Efforts were then made to pull the partially submerged vehicle from the river.
Locals brought a small boat and ropes were tied to the car. With the assistance of firefighters and locals, the car was successfully pulled to the ferry wharf.
Locals claimed that the ferry wharf at Sarmanas is at a sharp incline and a number of mishaps have been reported in the past, as vehicles were unable to negotiate the steep descent.
Local Panch member Sunil Waingankar said efforts are being made to reduce the sharp incline at the ferry wharf, so that vehicles do not accidentally slide down into the river.
