Tragic Bridge Collapse in Pune Claims Four Lives Amid Heavy Rainfall

Bridge Collapse Incident Overview

The recent collapse of a bridge over the Indrayani River in Pune, Maharashtra, has resulted in four fatalities, as reported by local news sources.

According to Pradeep Rayannawar, a senior inspector at the Talegaon Dabhade Police Station, two bodies were retrieved from beneath the wreckage, while two others died from their injuries after being rescued.

District Collector Jitendra Dudi announced on Monday that rescue efforts had been temporarily halted.

He confirmed that 51 individuals sustained injuries during the incident. Dudi mentioned that no reports of missing persons had been filed, and plans for an aerial survey using drones would commence once the rain subsided.

However, the National Disaster Relief Force stated that all missing individuals had been located, leading to the conclusion of rescue operations.

State disaster management minister Girish Mahajan indicated that the bridge collapsed due to an excessive number of tourists, despite it being designated for pedestrian use only.

Mahajan noted that a warning sign was posted, advising against the use of two-wheelers on the bridge, which appears to have been ignored by visitors.

The incident occurred in Kundamala village, situated approximately 16 kilometers north of Pimpri-Chinchwad town.

Maval MLA Sunil Shelke revealed that the bridge was around 30 years old and that approximately 100 people were on it at the time of the collapse.

At the time of the incident, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad were under an orange alert for heavy rainfall, having experienced significant downpours in the preceding days.

BJP leader Balasaheb Shelar expressed concerns about the bridge's structural integrity, stating that local authorities had placed warning signs about its dangers.

District Collector Dudi announced plans to establish a five-member committee to investigate whether a structural audit had been conducted on the bridge and if it had been deemed unsafe.

He also mentioned that prohibitory orders had been issued for major tourist attractions, advising visitors to avoid all water-related areas, including waterfalls.

A new bridge project was approved in 2024, with work orders issued on June 10.

On Sunday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared that families of the deceased would receive compensation of Rs 5 lakh, and the state would cover medical expenses for the injured.