Bantwal: The Mullarapatna-Phalguni bridge collapsed on the evening of Monday, June 25 due to the heavy rainfall which lashed the district over the past few days.

The bridge on the outskirts of Mangaluru connects Kuppepadavu, Kaikamba, Kateel, Iruvailu, Yedapadavu, and Ganjimata via Bantwal Sornadu.

The locals blamed the rampant illegal sand mining near its foundations for the collapse of the bridge. When last reports came in, no loss of life has been reported.