CM Fadnavis Flags 500 Monsoon-Vulnerable Spots in Pune District After Kund Mala Bridge Collapse

Pune, 17th June 2025: In the aftermath of the tragic bridge collapse at Kund Mala in Talegaon Dabhade, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday directed the Pune district administration to intensify safety measures at over 500 identified monsoon-vulnerable locations across the district.

“These sites include not just bridges but also low-lying areas and spots where water currents intensify during the rains,” Fadnavis said. “All these places have already been flagged by the collector’s office as high-risk zones, especially during the monsoon.”

The chief minister’s remarks came a day after the collapse of an old iron bridge over the Indrayani River claimed four lives and left several others injured. The incident occurred while tourists were standing on the bridge, despite prior warnings from local authorities.

Fadnavis emphasized that the bridge at Kund Mala had been declared unsafe earlier. “The collector had issued a closure notice for that structure, and locals had even put up signage to warn visitors. Unfortunately, it appears the danger was underestimated by those who ventured onto the bridge,” he said.

He stressed the need for enhanced vigilance going forward. “This incident is a wake-up call. Some dangerous spots already have police or community volunteers posted. We now need to ensure proactive monitoring at all such locations to prevent similar tragedies. Safety must be a shared responsibility,” he added.

Pune District Collector Dr. Jitendra Dudi announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh each for the families of the deceased. He also confirmed that a structural audit will be conducted on all older bridges in the district. “We have directed all relevant departments to initiate a comprehensive structural review. Any structure found unstable will either be dismantled or sealed off,” he said.

Dudi further clarified that a public advisory issued earlier to caution against visiting monsoon-sensitive spots applies to the entire district — not just tourist hubs like Maval or Lonavala. “There are more than 500 tourist sites in Pune district. We can only appeal to people to avoid areas that are marked risky,” he said. A decision on issuing fresh directives will be taken after a review meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

To investigate the Kund Mala incident thoroughly, the district administration has set up an official inquiry committee under the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). The panel includes senior officials such as the additional collector, a forest department representative, DCP (Crime Branch), superintending engineers from the PWD and irrigation departments, and the resident deputy collector.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik chaired a high-level meeting to assess the broader situation. The session included participation from senior bureaucrats including the additional chief secretary, principal secretary, officials from the rural development and roads department, divisional commissioner of Pune, Zilla Parishad CEO, and the Pune superintendent of police. Some attendees joined virtually.

The Kund Mala tragedy has sparked renewed concerns over monsoon preparedness in the district, especially as early and intense rainfall has already begun to impact several areas.