Pune Bridge Collapse: A Tragedy That Could Have Been Avoided | PKG WAY
Reported by PKG WAY Team
Pune,June 16,2025 : A tragic incident shook Pune on Sunday afternoon when a 30-year-old narrow bridge over the Indrayani River, near Talegaon, collapsed under the pressure of overcrowding. The horrifying accident claimed four lives and left over 50 people injured, raising serious concerns over negligence, poor infrastructure, and administrative apathy.
What Happened?
On the afternoon of June 15, the old bridge near Kundmala gave way under the weight of an unusually large crowd. The structure, which was only four feet wide, was built to accommodate minimal foot traffic. But on weekends, the bridge would witness over 8,000 tourists, far beyond its capacity.
Eyewitnesses said the bridge shook for nearly five minutes before collapsing. Many people fell into the rain-swollen river, and some were swept away. Despite warnings and signs, crowds continued to use the bridge, and many had even parked their bikes and scooters on it.
Rescue Operation
A massive 15-hour rescue operation was launched, during which 55 people were rescued from the river. Unfortunately, four people died, and over 50 sustained injuries. According to the officials, three out of the four deceased have been identified.
Why Did the Bridge Collapse?
There were multiple reasons behind this preventable tragedy:
• The bridge was nearly 30 years old and structurally weak.
• Its narrow width (only 4 feet) made it unsafe for crowds and vehicles.
• No structural audit was conducted in recent years.
• The bridge had visible potholes, covered only temporarily with cement blocks by local villagers.
• Tourists ignored warning signs, and more than 100 people were on the bridge when it collapsed.
Local residents had written to the Public Works Department (PWD) and Gram Panchayat two years ago, requesting repairs and a tourist movement ban — but no action was taken.
Ignored Warnings and Delayed Action
The signs were there. In 2017, former MLA Digambardada Bhegde had demanded a new bridge, saying it was essential for students, workers, and farmers who crossed it daily. He emphasized that two-wheelers and four-wheelers couldn’t even pass through it.
Last year, Rs. 80,000 was sanctioned for bridge repair by BJP minister Ravindra Chavan, but the funds were never utilized.
Even on the day of the accident, a local alerted the police about the crowd gathering on the bridge. Though officials arrived and dispersed the people, the crowd returned soon after they left, leading to the collapse.
Voices From The Ground
“I struggled for 15 minutes in the water and finally held a pipe and came out,” said Amol, a survivor.
Another witness said, “People had parked bikes on the bridge. Nobody paid attention to the danger signs. This was bound to happen.”
Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for the Authorities
The Pune Bridge Collapse is not just an accident—it is a reflection of how negligence, bureaucratic delays, and lack of basic safety audits can lead to irreversible tragedies. The loss of lives could have been prevented if timely action had been taken.
It's time the government treats infrastructure safety as a priority, especially when thousands of lives are at stake every day.
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🔹 A. Short Questions (10)
1. When and where did the Pune bridge collapse occur?
2. How many people died and how many were injured in the incident?
3. What river did the collapsed bridge cross?
4. How long did the rescue operation last?
5. What was the width of the collapsed bridge?
6. How many people were rescued from the accident site?
7. Why did locals place cement blocks on the bridge?
8. What was the crowd situation like before the bridge collapsed?
9. Who sanctioned funds for bridge repair last year?
10. What did former MLA Digambardada Bhegde request in 2017?
🔹 B. Fill in the Blanks (10)
1. The Pune bridge collapse took place over the ______ River.
2. The bridge was nearly ______ years old.
3. Around ______ people were rescued during the 15-hour operation.
4. The width of the bridge was just ______ feet.
5. Every weekend, around ______ tourists passed through the bridge.
6. ______ potholes on the bridge caused two-wheelers to collide.
7. The sanctioned repair amount of Rs. ______ was not used.
8. A ______ contacted police before the collapse about overcrowding.
9. The bridge had a ______ section that was 200 feet long.
10. The tragedy occurred on ______ afternoon.
🔹 C. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) (10)
1. What was the bridge's total length?
A) 200 feet
B) 470 feet
C) 350 feet
D) 500 feet
2. What caused the bridge to collapse?
A) Lightning
B) Earthquake
C) Overcrowding and weak structure
D) Fire
3. How many parts was the bridge made of?
A) Two
B) Three
C) Four
D) One
4. What type of bridge section was 200 feet long?
A) Wooden
B) Iron
C) Cement
D) Plastic
5. Who had demanded a new bridge in 2017?
A) Ajit Pawar
B) Ravindra Chavan
C) Digambardada Bhegde
D) Narendra Modi
6. Which party did the MLA who sanctioned funds belong to?
A) INC
B) BJP
C) NCP
D) Shiv Sena
7. What warning was ignored by the tourists?
A) Flood warning
B) Snake warning
C) Structural warning
D) Fire hazard warning
8. How many people were present on the bridge at the time of collapse (approx)?
A) 30
B) 50
C) 100
D) 20
9. What did locals use to cover potholes on the bridge?
A) Wooden planks
B) Metal sheets
C) Cement blocks
D) Plastic tarps
10. Who was contacted hours before the bridge collapse?
A) Fire brigade
B) Army
C) Police control room
D) Ambulance service
🔹 D. Synonyms (Choose the word nearest in meaning) (5)
1. Collapse
A) Strengthen
B) Fall
C) Rise
D) Support
2. Rescue
A) Save
B) Destroy
C) Delay
D) Forget
3. Spate
A) Calm
B) Flood
C) Fire
D) Earthquake
4. Dilapidated
A) Damaged
B) Beautiful
C) Tall
D) New
5. Tragedy
A) Celebration
B) Disaster
C) Comedy
D) Festival
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