Collapse of the bridge at the popular tourist destination in India kills at least 2 dead, injuries 32

At least two people died and another 32 were injured after an iron bridge over a river collapsed Sunday in a popular tourist destination in the state of Maharashtra Western of India, said the senior elected official of the state.

Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra’s prime minister, said at least six people were hospitalized in a critical condition due to their injuries. In a publication on social networks, Fadnavis said he was “deeply sad to learn about the tragic incident” and offered condolences to the families of the victims who died.

Local media reported that dozens of tourists were on the bridge when it collapsed, immersing many in the swollen river. Fadnavis also acknowledged that people had been swept and said a search operation was ongoing to find them. Six people have been rescued so far, he said.

The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “said a deep pain” about collapse in a telephone conversation with Fadnavis, where he promised to provide the necessary resources to the State Government of Maharashtra, according to the office of the principal minister.

The incident occurred in the Kundamala area in the district of Pune, which has witnessed heavy rains in recent days, giving the river a constant flow, Press Trust of India reported.

It was not raining when the bridge collapsed in an area frequented by scars, the news agency reported.

Police said that the teams of the National Disaster Response Force and other search and recovery units have undertaken rescue operations, said Press Trust.

India’s infrastructure has long been affected by security concerns, which has sometimes led to important disasters on its roads and bridges.

In 2022, a centenary cable suspension bridge collapsed in a river in the western state of Gujarat, sending hundreds immersing themselves in the water and killing at least 132 in one of the worst accidents in the country in the last decade.

• India
• Bridge collapse