A Tragic Pune Bridge Collapse in Kundmala
Pune, Maharashtra – On Sunday afternoon, June 15, 2025, a sturdy old iron bridge crossing the Indrayani River in Pune’s Kundmala area fell from underneath dozens of people, killing at least five with many more believed still missing. The collapse of the bridge happened due to rising water, primarily due to heavy rains in the area, which has become a widespread concern within the local populace and led to urgent rescue operations. The incident occurred in Maval taluka, about five kilometres from the popular tourist area of Talegaon Dabhade, where people come from all over Maharashtra, especially during monsoon.
What Happened?
Around 3:30-4:00 PM on Sunday the iron bridge, allegedly in a state of disrepair and closed for vehicular traffic, collapsed. Despite warnings, approximately 25-30 tourists congregated on the bridge to observe how open the Indrayani River was becoming from a few days’ worth of rainfall as a result of the current. It is possible that the current was strong enough to weaken the bridge and cause it to collapse, throwing several of them into the river.
Local reports suggest five-six people have been rescued and local police, fire department, national disaster response force (NDRF) are actively looking for those missing and unaccounted for. The total number of missing people is not confirmed, estimates vary from a total of 15-30 people.
Deputy Commissioner of Police for Pimpri-Chinchwad Zone 2, Vishal Gaikwad confirmed the incident, stating, “This was an old iron bridge that collapsed around 4 PM. From preliminary information, there are supposedly two fatalities. 6-7 were rescued and sent to hospital”. Rescue boats and vehicles are on scene and actively searching for survivors.
Heavy Rain and its Impact
Pune and the surrounding areas have seen heavy rainfall for the last few days which resulted in a tremendous rise in the Indrayani River. When the structure collapsed, it was not raining, however, the consistent rain of the previous days built up a large current and weakened the already deteriorating structure. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert to Pune with thunderstorms and heavy rain, which has provided a number of floods and structural failures across Maharashtra in the last few weeks.
The bridge was located in the scenic Kundmala area, and had many visitors, eager to see for themselves the force of the river following the rains. This tragedy has raised serious questions about the state of old infrastructure in the region and if the government should consider changes in laws and regulations to avoid a similar situation.
Official Statements and Disaster Response
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his sorrow, stating that “I am deeply pained over the tragedy at the Indrayani River bridge in Indori, near Talegaon, and have spoken to the District Collector who is already initiating all possible help.” He also urged people to be careful during the monsoon season and to follow safety regulation when visiting sites.
Rescue efforts are underway, with NDRF teams and local police and fire brigade working hard on behalf of those that are missing and have turned up in the river. Ambulances are travelling to the site, and local area hospitals are alerted to possible injuries from the accident. Locals were there first and were the first to save lives by retrieving people from the river before official rescue teams could work.
A Wake-up Call for Infrastructure Safety
The Kundmala bridge collapse is only the latest in a string of rain-related incidents in Maharashtra. Only weeks earlier there was torrential rain in Pune, causing roads and highways to submerge under the floodwaters and families living in low-lying regions to be evacuated. As the old adage goes: ‘history repeats itself’ – and again the indisputable repetitive nature of tragedies like this has raised questions regarding infrastructure audits for outdated, aging bridges and infrastructure within flood-affected areas.
Experts have noted that when numerous old structures, like the bridge involved in the Kundmala incident, were built there were not designed with any extreme weather future adaptation in mind as we’re witnessing through the lens of climate change. The intensity and add on risk of various monsoon rains, and the routine closure and re-opening of infrastructure are relevant to properly manage to avoid fatality.