PORVORIM: Stung by criticism over the delayed response to the bus tragedy at the Carona ferry wharf, Mapusa Police claims to have reacted within minutes of the tragedy and that, three policemen had even jumped into the river in a bid to rescue the victims in the submerged bus.

Mapusa PI Bhanudas Dessai sought to refute accusations of lapses and delay of the police in attending to the bus tragedy.

"On receiving information that the bus fell in the river, we immediately informed the Fire Service Station Mapusa and Control Room, who in turn, conveyed the message to Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, DGP, IGP, Disaster Management Cell, Coastal Police and Indian Navy," PI Dessai said.

“Mapusa Police reached the site within 17 minutes and about seven persons were already at the Carona ferry wharf."

"Police Sub Inspector Satish Padwalker, Police Constables Sushant Chopdekar and Dinesh Satelkar jumped into the river, but were unable to do anything due to the currents,” claimed PI Dessai .

The police official also maintained that they had pressed a crane into service.

“The crane ‘Parvati’, which we had requisitioned from Porvorim, could not reach the site in time, as many stationary vehicles had blocked both sides of the road. The crane took almost 40 minutes to reach the ferry wharf from Couto’s residence at Calvim,” said PI Dessai.

He said the bus conductor, Janu Harmalkar, had alighted from the bus one stop earlier and Rajesh Naik was driving the bus when it plunged into the river.

"Since the driver did not apply the brakes properly, the bus went into the river," said PI Dessai.

“A passenger Samarth Shirodkar was seated alongside the driver in the cabin. Since Samarth Shirodkar and Rajesh Naik knew to swim, they came escaped from the main door of the bus and swam across. Rajesh Naik later surrendered to the police,” he added.

Mapusa Police have registered the offence under Section 304 IPC and has obtained a five-day remand for the accused from the court.