The Pune district administration in its preliminary report submitted to the Maharashtra government has confirmed four deaths and 51 others injured after a 33-year-old iron bridge connecting nearby villages over the Indrayani river collapsed on Sunday.
The incident took place around 3:30 p.m. when about 125 tourists had gathered at the Kundmala in Maval tehsil of Pune district for a monsoon outing.
Of the four deceased victims, three have been identified whilst one is yet to be identified.
The injured are being treated in various hospitals.
A total of 55 people were rescued, of which four persons died.
The names of the deceased include Chandrakant Sathale, Rohit Mane, Vihan Mane (identified) whilst one is still unidentified.
Due to continuous rains, the relief and rescue operation, which was stopped on Sunday night, is being continued on Monday morning.
The Maharashtra Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan was supervising the relief and rescue operation in the presence of local administration accompanied by two teams of NDRF, Pimpri-Chinchwad police, CRPF personnel and various social and non-governmental organisations.
Minister Mahajan visited the Talegaon General Hospital, where the injured are undergoing treatment and enquired about their health.
"The government will provide Rs 5 lakh to the relatives of the deceased and the entire cost of the treatment of the injured will be borne by the government."
He appealed to the tourists to take due care when visiting tourist places and also not to indulge in adventure tourism or hooliganism.
The State Minister for Rehabilitation Makarand Patil, who along with the Maval legislator Sunil Shelke, after visiting the spot said, "The bridge was more than 30 years old and it was constructed by the Pune Zilla Parishad. The administration had displayed boards at both sides urging people not to use it, but it was used by some who had come on a rainy day to enjoy. It is unfortunate that the incident occurred. The administration is engaged in rescue and relief works. The state disaster management Minister Girish Mahajan, who had been at the spot, has already announced that the state government will pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the heirs of the families of the deceased."
According to the Pune district administration, the work on Kundamala bridge began in 1990 and it was opened for use in 1993.
However, the administration observed in 2023 that the bridge was in dilapidated condition after its use for nearly 30 years and prohibited people from using it further.
The administration has proposed construction of a new bridge at the cost of Rs 8 crore.
The Public Works Department has issued a tender and issued a work order as the work is proposed to start after the rains.
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[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]
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Bridge collapsed on Indrayani river near Pune

33-year-old iron bridge over Indrayani river collapses during monsoon tourist outing

Bridge Collapse Kills 4, Injures 51 in Pune

33-year-old iron bridge over Indrayani river collapses during monsoon tourist outing

June 16, 2025 | 09:42 IST