4 Dead, 2 Missing as Bridge Collapses in Pune’s Maval; Over 50 Rescued

By A Staff Reporter

Pune, June 16: A tragic incident struck Pune’s Maval tehsil on Sunday afternoon when a 33-year-old iron bridge spanning the Indrayani River collapsed, killing four people and leaving two others missing. The bridge, which connected nearby villages, gave way around 3:30 pm as over 125 visitors gathered at the popular Kundmala spot during a monsoon outing.

Officials reported that 51 persons were injured, many of them suffering minor to moderate injuries, and over 50 people were rescued in a swift operation involving multiple agencies. The injured were rushed to Pavana Hospital, MIMER Hospital, and Atharva Hospital at Somatane Phata, where all are reported to be out of danger.

Rescue operations were launched immediately, involving two NDRF teams, local disaster response units, Apada Mitras (volunteer rescuers), fire brigades from Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA). A local trekking group also joined efforts on the ground.

Officials say the incident occurred following two days of continuous heavy rainfall, which had significantly increased water levels in the Indrayani River, potentially weakening the structure.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the collapse, including whether structural vulnerabilities were overlooked during recent inspections. Search operations are still underway for the two missing individuals.