Two Dead, 32 Injured As Bridge Collapses In India
At least two people were killed and 32 others injured on Sunday after an old iron bridge collapsed at a popular tourist site in India’s western Maharashtra state.
According to authorities, the incident occurred around 4pm local time in the Kundamala area of Pune district, where scores of tourists had gathered for a weekend outing.
The Times of India reports that approximately 125 people were on the bridge when it suddenly gave way, plunging many into the fast-flowing Indrayani River below.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, said six people have been rescued and hospitalised in critical condition.
He added that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire brigade, local police, and volunteers are continuing intensive rescue and search operations.
“Rescue work is being carried out on war footing. I am in constant touch with officials on the ground,” Fadnavis said in a statement on X.
Eyewitnesses say about 20 to 25 individuals were swept away by the river’s strong currents following the collapse.
Several people are also said to remain missing and are feared to be trapped under debris or washed downstream.
The bridge, described by officials as decades-old and structurally weak, had not been in active maintenance.
Although it wasn’t raining at the time of the incident, the region has experienced days of heavy rainfall, swelling the river and likely contributing to the disaster.
Emergency medical teams were deployed at the site, while nearby hospitals have been placed on alert.
The state government has announced 500,000 Indian rupees in compensation for the families of those who lost their lives and has pledged to cover all medical expenses for the injured.
A full investigation has been ordered to determine the cause of the collapse and assess the condition of similar structures across the region.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid the affected area and allow rescue teams to operate without obstruction.
Two Dead, 32 Injured As Bridge Collapses In India is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
