Mahad tragedy: Shiv Sena slams CM Fadnavis, says he should stop aerial visits to mishap sites

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Lashing out at the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the Mahad tragedy, the Shiv Sena today said that the CM should stop aerial visits to mishap sites and demanded guardian ministers be barred from flying inside the state to understand its road and bridge conditions.

The Sena also said the present government's ambitious 'Make in Maharashtra' programme should begin with the construction of good quality roads and bridges, in the absence of which no foreign nation would be willing to invest there.

"Instead of indulging in blame game and only conducting meetings to gauge the Mahad tragedy, what is needed is to give a serious thought over the issue.

"Also, if the CM really wants to understand the situation of roads and bridges in the state and conduct a proper audit, he, along with other ministers need to shun planes and helicopters while touring the state," the party said in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

It further said that if in a progressive state like Maharashtra, a large number of people lose their lives in natural calamities, the government needs to change the structure of its 'Make in India' and 'Make in Maharashtra' programme.

"Start your 'Make in Maharashtra' programme by fixing old and dilapidated bridges. Unless you construct proper roads, do not expect foreign nations to invest money here," it said.

Eight more bodies were recovered on 5 July during search operations in the Savitri river, where two state-run buses and some private vehicles were swept away after a British-era bridge collapsed in Mahad, taking the toll in the tragedy to 22.

-With PTI inputs