Mandovi bridge collapse
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On 5 July 1986, a section of the first Mandovi Bridge, a road bridge built over the Mandovi River in Goa, India, collapsed. The incident resulted in the deaths of several individuals and led to public concern over bridge safety and construction practices in the region.[1][2]
The first Mandovi bridge was constructed in the 1970s and opened to the public in July 1971. It was intended to facilitate direct vehicular movement between Panjim and Porvorim, reducing dependence on ferry services. The bridge was built using pre-stressed cantilever segmental concrete technology. It had a total length of 600 metres and was constructed by the German company, Ferrocement. It was among the first of its kind in India.[2]
Collapse
On 5 July 1986, a section of the bridge collapsed without warning. The incident occurred during routine traffic movement, and several vehicles were on the bridge at the time. Official reports indicate that eight lives were lost in the incident, although unofficial estimates suggest that the number may have been higher.[1]
Causes
Subsequent investigations revealed that the collapse was likely due to corrosion in the pre-stressing cables. This corrosion weakened the structural integrity of the bridge and compromised its load-bearing capacity. Experts also pointed to inadequate maintenance and flaws in construction techniques as contributing factors. In particular, the lack of proper waterproofing and exposure of cables to moisture were found to be significant concerns.[2][1]