<p>At least 40 tourists got stranded near Dudhsagar waterfall in South Goa after a small bridge on the Mandovi river got washed away due to a sudden rise in the water level following heavy rains, but were rescued by the lifeguards appointed by the state government, officials said on Saturday.</p>.<p>The incident occurred on Friday evening, when incessant rains pounded the state.</p>.<p>Chief Minister Pramod Sawant lauded the lifeguards for the rescue operation. "At least 40 tourists who were stranded near Dudhsagar waterfall after a small bridge on the Mandovi river got washed away due to a sudden rise in the water level as a result of heavy rains. The tourists got stranded on the waterfall side," a senior police official said.</p>.<p>The visitors could not cross the river through the gushing waters on their own in the absence of the bridge, he said, adding that the state-appointed lifeguards evacuated them. The picturesque Dudhsagar waterfall, situated on the Goa-Karnataka border, attracts a large number of tourists.</p>.<p>Visit to this waterfall was stopped at the start of the monsoon season, but it was opened for tourists earlier this week.</p>.<p>CM Sawant congratulated the lifesaving agency for rescuing the tourists. In a tweet, he said, "The River Lifesavers rescued around 40 guests stuck at Dudhsagar waterfall due to turning of crossing bridge where water level increased due to heavy rainfall. I thank and congratulate the River lifesavers for rescuing the tourists."</p>
<p>At least 40 tourists got stranded near Dudhsagar waterfall in South Goa after a small bridge on the Mandovi river got washed away due to a sudden rise in the water level following heavy rains, but were rescued by the lifeguards appointed by the state government, officials said on Saturday.</p>.<p>The incident occurred on Friday evening, when incessant rains pounded the state.</p>.<p>Chief Minister Pramod Sawant lauded the lifeguards for the rescue operation. "At least 40 tourists who were stranded near Dudhsagar waterfall after a small bridge on the Mandovi river got washed away due to a sudden rise in the water level as a result of heavy rains. The tourists got stranded on the waterfall side," a senior police official said.</p>.<p>The visitors could not cross the river through the gushing waters on their own in the absence of the bridge, he said, adding that the state-appointed lifeguards evacuated them. The picturesque Dudhsagar waterfall, situated on the Goa-Karnataka border, attracts a large number of tourists.</p>.<p>Visit to this waterfall was stopped at the start of the monsoon season, but it was opened for tourists earlier this week.</p>.<p>CM Sawant congratulated the lifesaving agency for rescuing the tourists. In a tweet, he said, "The River Lifesavers rescued around 40 guests stuck at Dudhsagar waterfall due to turning of crossing bridge where water level increased due to heavy rainfall. I thank and congratulate the River lifesavers for rescuing the tourists."</p>