At least two people have died and more than two dozen are feared drowned after an iron bridge collapsed into the Indrayani River in Pune district's Maval tehsil on Sunday afternoon, officials confirmed.
The incident took place in the Kundmala area near Talegaon Dabhade, a popular tourist location in Maharashtra, drawing a crowd due to the weekend.
Eyewitnesses said the bridge gave way suddenly, plunging a large number of people into the river. Officials estimate that between 25 and 30 individuals may have been swept away.
Rescue operations were launched immediately. Local police, disaster response teams, and residents of nearby villages rushed to the scene. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with the fire brigade and police, are engaged in the effort.
“Heavy rainfall over the past two days has raised the water level of the Indrayani River, making the rescue operation more challenging,” said an officer from the Talegaon Dabhade police station. Although it was not raining at the time of the collapse, the increased water flow has hampered rescue efforts.
So far, six bodies have been recovered. According to fire officials, 18 to 20 ambulances, fire tenders, and rescue vans have been deployed to the site. Fire department boats are also on the scene, actively involved in locating survivors and retrieving bodies.
Videos from the site show the aftermath of the collapse, with rescue workers navigating strong currents in search of missing persons.
Authorities have not confirmed the exact number of individuals missing, but they have not ruled out the possibility of the death toll rising as the operation continues.
The collapsed bridge was an old iron structure frequently used by locals and tourists visiting the riverside area. Sunday's incident has raised concerns over the safety and maintenance of ageing infrastructure in the region.
Rescue operations remain underway, and further updates are awaited.
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