How years of neglect caused the Pune bridge collapse?
and may cause more
Hey hey,
Let’s begin this week by taking a moment to reflect, not just on where we’re going, but how we get there.
Because sometimes, the roads, or in this case, a bridge, hold stories we can’t ignore.
📌 The tragedy
On a regular Sunday afternoon, when most people were out enjoying their weekend, tragedy struck near Kund Mala, a scenic tourist destination roughly 40km from Pune.
A narrow iron-and-concrete footbridge spanning the Indrayani River gave way, sending over a hundred people, and several two-wheelers crashing into the waters below.
Four people died, including a five-year-old boy, and over 50 others were injured. One person is still missing.
So, what went wrong?
Turns out, everything that happened could have been avoided.
📌 An unsafe structure
The bridge wasn’t just old, it had already been declared unsafe by the authorities.
A signboard prohibiting entry was installed, and the district administration had issued official warnings just a week prior. But tourists and locals continued to use the bridge, likely tempted by convenience or the view.
Maharashtra's Water Resources and Disaster Management Minister, Girish Mahajan, was blunt:
“There were more than 100 people on the bridge. It was beyond its carrying capacity… A warning board was there. People still used it.”
Among the victims confirmed by police was little Vihan Mane, along with two others (Chandrakant Sathle and Rohit Mane.) The fourth deceased is yet to be identified.
📌 There was “no space, just chaos”
One survivor, Umakant Dalvi, described the moment:
“There was no space. It was crowded, and there were some bikes on it. The situation worsened quickly.”
As the bridge snapped under the pressure, bikes and people plunged into the river. Some were lucky to be pulled out immediately. Others weren't.
📌 And the bridge was neglected by systems
Built over 30 years ago by the Public Works Department, the bridge has since been transferred to the Pune Zilla Parishad.
Local leaders had already flagged it as dangerous. In fact, Rs 8 crore had been approved for a new parallel bridge. The funds were there, the plans were drawn, but construction had not started.
Even more alarming, there were no barricades to physically stop access to the old bridge. Some villagers used it daily as a shortcut.
In hindsight, that shortcut became a fatal detour.
📌Plus, there was no accountability
The rescue effort was swift, involving the NDRF, police, fire brigade, and other teams. Two bodies were recovered using cranes. Search for the missing person resumes Monday.
A five-member committee has been set up by the district collector, Jitendra Dudi, to investigate the incident.
The team is tasked with identifying administrative gaps and recommending new safety protocols within 15 days.
Minister Mahajan also emphasized that police accountability will be pursued:
“The bridge was not guarded despite clear orders… I’ll request the CM to act against any personnel found guilty.”
So, what’s next?
The Maharashtra government has announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased and pledged to cover all medical expenses for the injured.
But remember that this wasn’t just a freak accident. It was a failure of follow-through, vigilance, and planning.
And unfortunately, it’s not the first time warnings have gone unheeded.
So, that’s it for today. If you enjoyed this edition, subscribe to hear from us every day!
See ya 👋
