Indrayani River Bridge Collapse: Shocking Photo Emerges Moments Before Disaster in Pune’s Kundmala, Raises Questions Over Crowd Control
Maharashtra Govt Orders All Civic Bodies To Conduct Structural Audits Of All Bridges, Buildings
Pune, June 17, 2025 – A day after the tragic Indrayani River bridge collapse in Kundmala, Maval, a chilling Viral photograph taken moments before the incident has surfaced, sparking intense debate over administrative negligence and crowd management failures.
The old iron bridge over the Indrayani River collapsed under the weight of hundreds of tourists on Sunday afternoon around 3:30 PM, leading to a horrifying accident. According to officials, four people have been confirmed dead, while 52 others were rescued in a dramatic overnight operation by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local authorities.
The now-viral photograph shows the bridge packed to capacity with tourists, leaving no space to even set foot, suggesting that the sheer volume of people caused the structure to give way. Eyewitnesses and experts alike believe that overcrowding was the primary reason behind the collapse.
The incident occurred on a weekend when a large number of tourists had gathered in Kundmala, a scenic location in Pune district, due to the onset of monsoon and lush greenery. It is estimated that 100 to 150 tourists were on the bridge at the same time when the central portion of the structure suddenly gave way, plunging many into the fast-flowing river.
Locals have raised serious concerns over the absence of crowd control measures, questioning why no official personnel were deployed to regulate entry onto the aging bridge, despite the visible surge in footfall due to the weekend.
“Why was there no restriction on the number of people allowed on the bridge? Where was the administration when the crowd was swelling?” asked a local resident, echoing the sentiments of many in the community.
Panic gripped the area following the collapse. Several brave locals jumped into the river to rescue those who had fallen in. The Talegaon police, fire brigade, forest department, and NDRF teams rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation that continued throughout the night.
The rescue operation was finally called off by NDRF early Monday morning, after confirming there were no more individuals missing.
The state has expressed grief over the tragic incident, with many demanding an inquiry into the lack of preventive measures, especially when the bridge had been in use for years and was known to be old.
As the investigation continues, the photograph captured moments before the collapse serves as a grim reminder of what can happen when infrastructure is ignored and crowd control is neglected a tragedy that perhaps could have been prevented.
