‘I can’t believe I survived this accident’

The survivors of the horrific accident at Maisadhara bridge in Kolad on Mumbai-Goa highway, which claimed four lives, are yet to recover from the shock. A victim, who spoke to HT, said that he did not even remember what happened to them.

The survivors of the horrific accident at Maisadhara bridge in Kolad on Mumbai-Goa highway, which claimed four lives, are yet to recover from the shock. A victim, who spoke to HT, said that he did not even remember what happened to them.

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“I am still trembling,” said Manohar Bedekar, 38, one of the eight survivors, almost 12 hours after the accident. “I thought I was going to die. I am surprised I am alive,” said Badekar, while speaking about his ordeal.

Badekar, who suffered injuries on forehead, arms, leg and face, said he was sleeping when the vehicle lost control and fell into a lake. He lost consciousness after his head hit the vehicle.

Badekar said that he only recalled seeing the vehicle turning on its side and sliding into the lake. “In a moment everything turned upside-down and there was water everywhere. When the jeep turned, we all fell on each other. I didn’t even know if the person sitting next to me was alive or dead,” he said.

Another injured, Dilip Shinde, who was also rushed to Sion hospital, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday afternoon.

“I lost four members of my family. When they left, I thought I’d see them again in two days. Now the idea of never seeing them again is hard to believe,” said Ankush Shinde, a relative of the Shinde family, who was waiting outside Sion hospital. He later learnt about death of Dilip, his maternal uncle.