Kund Mala Bridge Collapse in Pune: Locals Blame Years of Ignored Warnings
Reported by Varad Bhatkhande
Talegaon Dabhade, 15th June 2025: A day meant for enjoying the scenic beauty of the monsoon turned tragic in Pune district on Sunday, as an iron footbridge over the Indrayani River at Kund Mala in Maval taluka collapsed, leaving at least three people dead and many others missing. The area, a popular monsoon tourism spot near Talegaon Dabhade, was crowded with visitors when the bridge gave way around 3:30 pm.
The structure, said to be built in 1993 to connect local villages, had long been flagged by locals for being too old and too narrow for current usage. Despite this, it remained in routine use.
According to the Pune District Disaster Management Authority, nearly 100 tourists had gathered on or near the 30-year-old bridge—many of them families who had come to enjoy the first heavy rains of the season.
Following the collapse, 38 people were rescued, while 18 sustained injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals including Pawana Hospital, Maimar Hospital, and Atharva Hospital at Somatane Phata. Two people died during treatment. Officials believe at least three people are still trapped beneath the debris in the riverbed.
Two NDRF teams, along with Pimpri Chinchwad and PMRDA fire brigades, Aapda Mitra volunteers, Shiv Durg rescue and local disaster management teams were immediately deployed. Boats, divers, and drones are being used for the search and rescue operation.
Repeated Warnings Ignored
Locals told Punekar News that despite multiple warnings about the bridge’s deteriorating condition—especially during the monsoon—no permanent solution was implemented. The bridge, intended only for pedestrians, was often used by two-wheelers as well. Though it underwent a minor renovation five years ago, structural weaknesses persisted.
“This bridge was never meant to handle so much traffic. We’ve raised complaints several times. But nobody paid attention,” said a local villager, watching rescue teams sift through the debris.
Top Officials at the Site
Senior officials including Baramati MP Supriya Sule, Maval MLA Sunil Shelke, and Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissioner Vinoy Kumar Choubey visited the spot. MP Sule consoled grieving locals and assured them that all efforts were underway to locate the missing.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2), Vishal Gaikwad, said:
“NDRF and other agencies are working continuously. Seven injured victims have been admitted to hospitals nearby.”
Tourists Unaware of the Danger
Kund Mala, with its lush greenery and fast-flowing Indrayani waters, becomes a hotspot during the monsoon. Many of those present were not from the area and were unaware of the bridge’s fragile condition. The Pune District Administration had marked the location as vulnerable, but no barricading or alert signage was in place on Sunday.
A Crisis That Could Have Been Prevented
As bodies are pulled from the river and the search continues, there is growing anger over administrative inaction.
“This was not an act of nature—it was criminal neglect,” said an eyewitness from Talegaon.
Demands have now intensified for a judicial probe, financial compensation for victims’ families, and the construction of a safer, permanent bridge to replace the one lost.
As rescue efforts continue into the night, the tranquil tourist spot of Kund Mala has turned into a site of mourning—a stark reminder of how lack of maintenance and oversight can turn even the most picturesque monsoon retreat into a disaster zone.
