A tragic bridge collapse over the Indrayani River in Talegaon, near Pune in Maharashtra, occurred on Sunday afternoon due to overcrowding, limited space, and disregard for warning signs. The river was swollen from heavy weekend rains, and several tourists standing on the bridge fell into the water. Four people lost their lives, and more than 50 injured individuals were rescued by this morning.
Before-and-after images of the bridge revealed clear warning signs — especially that it was only meant to carry one two-wheeler and a few pedestrians at a time. Officials noted that the bridge was just four feet wide, making it very narrow. Despite this, at the time of the incident, around seven to eight bikes and a large crowd were on the bridge. Authorities said over 100 people had gathered there, disregarding the warning board installed at the site.
Earlier warning signs about the Pune bridge
Officials said potholes had formed on the bridge, leading to collisions between two-wheelers. In the absence of a permanent fix, locals placed cement blocks to temporarily patch the damaged spots. Despite residents writing to the Public Works Department and Gram Panchayat two years ago—urging for repairs and a ban on tourist access—the local administration did not conduct a structural audit in recent years.
No security was initially deployed in the area either. Only recently, after villagers raised concerns, a police officer was stationed near the bridge on Saturdays. Last year, BJP MLA and minister Ravindra Chavan approved ₹80,000 for the bridge’s repair, but the funds were never used for the intended work.
A few hours before the tragic incident, a local resident called the police control room around 12:30 pm to report that the bridge was overcrowded. Police arrived quickly and cleared the crowd. However, soon after, many people—mostly tourists—returned to the bridge, which is a popular sightseeing spot.
At around 3:15 p.m., the bridge in Pune started shaking for nearly five minutes before collapsing under the weight of the crowd.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Sunday that the iron bridge was old and rusted, and it likely collapsed because too many people were standing on it. He added that different versions of the event have been shared, but initial reports suggest the age and poor condition of the bridge were major factors. He also mentioned that plans to build a new bridge had already been approved.
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