In its initial report to the Maharashtra government, the Pune district administration verified that a 33-year-old iron bridge that connected neighboring villages across the Indrayani river fell on Sunday, resulting in four fatalities and 51 injuries.
About 125 visitors had assembled at the Kundmala in Maval tehsil of Pune district for a monsoon excursion at around 3:30 p.m. when the event occurred.
Three of the four individuals who died have been recognized, while one is still unidentified.
Several hospitals are treating the injured.
Four people died out of the 55 people who were rescued.
The names of the deceased are as follows: Vihan Mane (unidentified), Rohit Mane, and Chandrakant Sathale.
The relief and rescue efforts that were halted on Sunday night are being resumed on Monday morning due to the ongoing rains.
In the presence of local authorities, two teams of NDRF, Pimpri-Chinchwad police, CRPF personnel, and other social and non-governmental organizations, Maharashtra Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan was overseeing the relief and rescue effort.
Minister Mahajan asked the injured patients about their health while visiting Talegaon General Hospital, where they are receiving treatment.
“The government will cover all medical expenses for the injured and give Rs 5 lakh to the surviving family members of the deceased.”
He urged travelers to exercise caution when visiting tourist destinations and to refrain from engaging in adventurous travel or hooliganism.
After visiting the location, State Minister for Rehabilitation Makarand Patil and Maval lawmaker Sunil Shelke stated, “The bridge was built by the Pune Zilla Parishad and was more than 30 years old.” Although the government had posted signs on both sides warning people not to use it, some people who had arrived on a rainy day did so for fun. That the thing happened is regrettable. The administration is working on relief and rescue projects. The state government will compensate the heirs of the slain families with Rs 5 lakh apiece, according to state disaster management minister Girish Mahajan, who was present at the scene.
The Pune district administration claims that construction on the Kundamala bridge started in 1990 and was completed and put into service in 1993.
However, after almost 30 years of use, the management noted in 2023 that the bridge was in poor condition and forbade anyone from using it going forward.
At a cost of Rs 8 crore, the administration has suggested building a new bridge.
Since the work is supposed to begin after the rains, the Public Works Department has issued a work order and a tender.
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