As many as 42 people may have been swept away by the currents of Savitri River after a bridge collapsed near Mahad in Raigad district. According to Raigad deputy collector Satish Vagal, the figure is based on complaints received so far from family and friends of those who were travelling on the Mumbai-Goa highway, around the time when the colonial bridge collapsed on Tuesday night, but had yet to reach their destinations, Hindustan Times reported.

The number includes the 22 passengers of the to state buses that fell into the river, in addition to eight people travelling in a Chevrolet Travera, four in a Honda City and four people travelling the route in a two- or three-wheeler, Vagal said. So far, the bodies of three women and four men have been recovered, as rescue operations continue, ANI reported.

Earlier, the Maharashtra government ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident. A 300-kg magnet was lowered into the swollen river to trace the two buses that were swept away. Navy divers also resumed rescue operations, and the Coast Guard's Chetak helicopter also began to scan the area. However, strong currents in the river hampered their efforts. A boat with NDRF personnel reportedly capsized.