Old, unsafe iron bridge collapses under tourist rush; 4 dead, 6 injured, 38 rescued
Kundmala, a monsoon hotspot in Pune’s Maval region, turned into a disaster on Sunday. An old iron pedestrian bridge over the Indrayani River collapsed, killing four people, including a five-year-old child. Six individuals are critically injured, while 38 have been rescued. The incident occurred around 3:30 PM, drawing widespread shock and grief.
Authorities revealed that the 32-year-old bridge, which connected Shelarwadi to Indori village, had already been declared unsafe. Despite warnings and barricades, a crowd of over 150–300 tourists gathered on the bridge, far beyond its capacity, leading to its collapse into the gushing river below.
What Went Wrong?
According to initial findings, three major factors likely led to the tragedy:
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Overcrowding:
Tourists flooded Kundmala to enjoy the monsoon scenery. Nearly 250-300 people were reportedly on the narrow bridge, built originally for local farmers, not for large crowds.
Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan said, “Entry was restricted, but tourists ignored warnings. Police and locals had cautioned them.”
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Ignored Danger Signs:
Despite advisory boards, warning signs, and police instructions, many visitors crossed the bridge with enthusiasm for monsoon tourism. District Collector Jitendra Dudi confirmed that prior alerts were issued, but “the crowd simply surged.” -
Aging Infrastructure:
The iron bridge, built 32 years ago, had been flagged for renovation multiple times. Local MLA Rohit Pawar said, “It was old and needed repairs, but the work was never taken up.” Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Anand Dubey added that ₹8 crore was sanctioned for the bridge—but never utilised.
A survivor said, “We were stuck… people gathered in the middle, then the bridge just collapsed. I fell on the rocks, got hurt… but I’m alive.”
Eyewitness Swapnil Kollam recalled, “Over 150 people were on the bridge… it’s God’s grace my family survived.”
What the Government Said:
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, and DCM Eknath Shinde expressed deep sorrow.
On X, CM Fadnavis announced:
“The state will provide ₹5 lakh compensation to each bereaved family. All medical expenses for the injured will be covered by the government.”
Ajit Pawar, who is also Pune’s Guardian Minister, assured a high-level investigation into the negligence and said, “Strict action will be taken against those found responsible.”
Teams from Pune & Pimpri-Chinchwad Police, PMRDA Fire Department, and two NDRF units carried out immediate rescue operations. Officials have vowed to inspect similar old structures across Maharashtra and strengthen tourism safety protocols during the monsoon.
