Pune: At least six tourists have been killed and several others are missing after a pedestrian bridge over the Indrayani River in the Kundamala area of Dehu, near Pune in Maharashtra, collapsed on Sunday afternoon.
The Pimpri-Chinchwad police have said that 10-15 people are trapped.
Dehu is a revered pilgrimage site associated with Sant Tukaram. It sees a large influx of visitors, especially on weekends. Being a Sunday, the area was crowded with tourists when the bridge — connecting both banks of the river — suddenly gave way.
Eyewitnesses described the collapse as sudden and shocking, with no time for those on the bridge to react. Multiple individuals fell into the water and were carried away by the current.
Emergency response teams from the Talegaon Dabhade Police, under the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissionerate, rushed to the scene and initiated rescue operations. “About 10 to 15 people are feared trapped in the river. So far, 5 to 6 people have been rescued. Further details are awaited,” the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police said in a statement.
Rescue operations are ongoing with help from local authorities, police, and fire brigade teams. Boats and divers have been deployed, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also been alerted.
The cause of the collapse is still under investigation, but officials suspect structural weakness possibly worsened by recent rainfall could be a factor. The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety and maintenance of infrastructure in popular tourist and religious areas.
