Bridge Collapse: Shout Out From Biden For Indian Crew

WASHINGTON, DC (ANI) – US President Joe Biden lauded the prompt action by personnel on board the cargo ship ‘Dali’, which struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore causing the bridge to plunge into the river below sending several people and vehicles into the water.
Shipping company Synergy Maritime Group which managed the Singapore-flagged freight ship in a statement on March 26 said the entire 22-member crew of the vessel were Indians.

Personnel on board the ship were able to alert the Maryland Department of Transportation that they had lost control of their vessel prompting the local authorities to close the bridge to traffic before the catastrophic was impact, a move which “undoubtedly” saved lives, President Biden on March 27 said during his comments at the White House regarding the Baltimore bridge collapse.

Biden said that “Everything so far indicates that this was a terrible accident. At this time, we have no other indication – no other reason to believe there was any intentional act here.”

Six people who were missing after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed have been presumed dead, Maryland state police said.

“Officials at the scene estimate eight people were unaccounted for still — not still, were unaccounted for. That number might change. Two have been rescued — one without injury, one in critical condition. And the search-and-rescue operation is continuing for all those remaining as we speak,” the US President said.

US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized that the Francis Scott Key Bridge was not an ordinary bridge and was one of the cathedrals of American infrastructure and added that the path to normalcy will not be easy. He said that bringing everything back to normal would not be quick and inexpensive.

“As President Biden has made clear, the federal government will provide all of the support that they need for as long as it takes,” he said.
The US president’s plan is to work with everyone here to rebuild this bridge and reopen this port, “including our readiness as a department to approve emergency funding as soon as we receive that request,” he added.