At least two people lost their lives and 32 others were injured when an iron bridge over a river collapsed on Sunday in a popular tourist spot in Maharashtra, a western state of India, according to the state’s chief minister.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis shared on social media that six individuals are in critical condition and receiving hospital care. Local reports mentioned that many tourists were on the bridge at the time of collapse, causing several to fall into the fast-flowing river below.
Fadnavis confirmed that six people were rescued and said that an intensive search operation is ongoing as some individuals remain missing, swept away by the river current.
The incident took place in the Kundamala area of Pune district, which has experienced heavy rainfall over recent days, resulting in a strong river flow. Officials noted that it was not raining when the bridge gave way in this popular picnic spot.
Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force and other units are actively involved in search and recovery efforts.
India’s infrastructure has faced longstanding safety challenges, sometimes leading to tragic accidents on bridges and highways. In 2022, a century-old suspension bridge collapsed in Gujarat, another western state, causing hundreds to fall into the river and resulting in at least 132 deaths—one of the deadliest such disasters in the country in recent years.
