Two people died and several may have been swept away after an iron bridge over Pune's Indrayani River collapsed on Sunday.
The incident took place in Kundamala area, which has been seeing heavy rains over the past few days, giving the river a steady flow, an official from the Talegaon Dabhade police station said. It was not raining when the bridge collapsed, he added.
"As per preliminary information, two persons have died in the collapse, while some are feared swept away. Five to six persons have been rescued as per initial information and have been sent to hospital for check ups," he said.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and personnel from other specialised units, including the fire brigade, are at the spot, which was crowded due to it being a Sunday, the official added.
Fadnavis on 'war footing'
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said six people have been rescued so far, and a search operation is being conducted on a "war footing" as some people are swept away.
"I was deeply saddened to hear the news of the tragedy that occurred when a bridge over the Indrayani River collapsed in Indori, near Talegaon in Pune district. According to preliminary information, 2 people have died in this incident. I pay my heartfelt tribute to them. We share the grief of their families," Fadnavis said on X.
The chief minister further said he had spoken with the Divisional Commissioner, District Collector, Superintendent of Police and the concerned Tehsildar.
He said a search was launched on a war footing as some people were swept away and NDRF has been deployed at the spot.
The relief work has been immediately accelerated, he added.
Pawar says 'rusty' bridge
Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said the iron bridge was rusted and prima facie it gave way as several people were standing on the structure.
Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi said 38 people have been rescued so far, and 30 of them hospitalised, while six others sustained serious injuries.
The collector said the exact number of people present on the bridge when it collapsed and swept away is being assessed. "We are also assessing how many people are missing," he added.
The incident occurred in the Kundamala area of Maval tehsil frequented by picnickers, officials said. They said the area has been receiving heavy rains over the last few days, sending the river into a spate.
Pawar said, "We have received various versions of the incident. As per the preliminary information, the bridge was old and rusted. Many people were standing on the bridge when it collapsed".
He said a plan for constructing a new bridge over the river was sanctioned.
Officials said the emergency response units, including the Pune rural police, fire brigade, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and others are conducting rescue operations.