Mahad (Maharashtra), Aug 3 (PTI): The Coast Guard and divers of the National Disaster Response Force were searching for passengers of two buses that fell into the Savitri river after an old bridge on the Mumbai-Goa highway collapsed on Tuesday night.

Raigad district collector Sheetal Ugale said rescuers have fished out two bodies, and were searching for at least 20 more people, including the crew of the two buses..

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said earlier that two state transport buses with 18 passengers and four crew members had gone missing when the bridge they were crossing collapsed into the rain-swollen Savitri river at Mahad, 170km from Mumbai.

“There were two parallel bridges; one is a new bridge and one constructed during the British era. The old one collapsed,” Fadnavis said.

The Coast Guard had deployed a Chetak helicopter to search for the people swept away.

The NDRF had initially deployed 80 of its men, including divers, but heavy rains were slowing their operations, the NDRF’s head, OP Singh, said.

The Navy has sent a Seaking 42C all-weather aircraft with a diving team, and diverted another seaking helicopter to the area for search.

Konkan Railway's spokesperson, Siddheshwar Telugu, said a rescue team has been rushed to assist the personnel present on the spot.