Pune, 17 June 2025: A day after four people lost their lives when a decades-old iron bridge collapsed at Kund Mala in Talegaon Dabhade, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik have directed a district-wide crackdown on unsafe tourist spots during the monsoon season.
Reviewing the tragedy during a high-level meeting on Monday, Chief Secretary Saunik stressed that merely putting up signage is insufficient. She ordered that vulnerable areas be temporarily closed until repairs and safety measures are fully in place. “During the monsoon, some spots witness heavy crowds. If there is any danger, entry must be banned temporarily,” she said, instructing officials to involve Home Guards and NCC cadets for crowd control and on-ground monitoring.
The collapsed 32-year-old pedestrian bridge over the Indrayani River had been declared unsafe by the district administration and marked with warning boards. Despite this, tourists gathered on it, leading to the fatal mishap.
Calling the incident a wake-up call, Chief Minister Fadnavis announced intensified safety measures at over 500 monsoon-sensitive locations, including bridges, low-lying areas, and riverbanks. “These sites were already identified as high-risk by the collector’s office. We need proactive policing and community vigilance to avoid such tragedies in the future,” he said.
Pune District Collector Dr. Jitendra Dudi confirmed that a structural audit will be conducted on all older bridges, with immediate closure or demolition of any found unsafe. He also announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh each for the families of the deceased and reiterated that the earlier public advisory to avoid risky spots remains in effect across the district.
An official inquiry committee under the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has been formed to probe the Kund Mala collapse. It includes senior officials from the collectorate, forest and PWD departments, police, and the irrigation division.
The high-level review, chaired by Saunik, was attended by top bureaucrats, the Pune divisional commissioner, collector, municipal commissioner, senior police officers, and other department heads, some joining virtually. The chief secretary also cited other recent accidents, like the overcrowded train tragedy in Thane, urging all departments to coordinate better to safeguard public lives during the monsoon surge in tourism.
Further directives on safety reinforcements are expected after a detailed follow-up meeting on Tuesday.
