Pune Bridge Collapse: Structural Failure, Rust Or Overcrowding, What Led To Tragedy?

New Delhi: A devastating bridge cave in over the Indrayani River in Maharashtra’s Pune district has claimed 4 lives and injured over 51 folks. The incident befell on Sunday afternoon when a just about 30-year-old slender bridge gave means underneath the burden of a big crowd, sending many tumbling into the swollen river.

The rescue operations were halted this morning after just about 15 hours. Officials stated {that a} general of 55 folks have been rescued. Of the 4 deaths – 3 folks were recognized. 

Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi tells ANI, “The rescue operation is currently on hold. As of now, no missing person complaints have been reported. Once the rain subsides, an aerial survey of the river using drones is also planned. The latest figures from the incident are – 4 fatalities and 51 injuries.”

Reason for Pune bridge cave in?

The tragic incident has raised questions on how the bridge collapsed. Possible causes come with the weakened, rusted iron construction and the presence of round 125 folks amassed on the identical spot.

The bridge, which spans 470 toes, had a slender width of simply 4 toes, making it tough for even two folks to go at a time. Despite caution forums prohibiting access to two-wheelers and big crowds, over 100 folks and 7 to 8 motorcycles have been provide at the bridge when it collapsed.

Preliminary investigations recommend that the bridge’s weakened and rusted iron construction, blended with the over the top load, could have contributed to the cave in.

According to a number of media experiences, the officers mentioned that the bridge is 470 toes lengthy, with the primary section being a stone slope of about 70 to 80 toes. It is then hooked up with two 100-foot-long iron sections and a 200-foot-long cement phase. The width of the bridge is solely 4 toes. The bridge is so slender that just one motorbike and two folks can go it at a time. However, on the time of the tragedy, there have been round seven to 8 motorcycles at the bridge, along with an enormous crowd.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar, claimed that the incident happened because of the rust at the iron bridge. “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 stated as in line with the media experiences.

According to ANI, Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan stated, “This was once a slender bridge handiest supposed for the motion of the farmers however 250-300 vacationers stood on it and the bridge collapsed because of over the top load… Entry was once denied over right here with forums erected, even police and locals warned about it…”

No structural audit, loss of safety

Officials had now not performed a structural audit of the bridge previously few years, in spite of the locals writing a letter to the Public Works Department and the Gram Panchayat two years in the past – hard the restore of the bridge and a ban at the motion of holiday makers. There was once no safety within the space both.

After repeated calls for through the villagers, the management started posting a police reputable close to the bridge each and every Saturday.

According to an NDTV record in 2017, former MLA Digambardada Bhegde had demanded the development of a brand new bridge over the river.

“I request the Maharashtra government to please provide funds for the reconstruction of the bridge over the Indrayani River. Only one person can cross the bridge. There are eight to ten villagers near it. Farmers, workers, and students need to cross the bridge – who do it on foot. However, two-wheelers and four-wheelers cannot pass through this. We request the Public Works Department and the administration to reconstruct the bridge,” Bhegde had written within the letter.

The factor was once additionally raised within the Parliament. However, the call for was once not noted through the management, the record additional quoted.

Injured recollects ordeal 

According to information company ANI, one of the vital injured within the incident says, “There was a huge crowd on the bridge. The road was jammed due to vehicles coming from both sides… The crowd gathered at one place and the bridge collapsed… People standing in the middle of the bridge were swept away… We fell on the stones and got injured…”

The different one added, “Within 15 minutes of the incident, Police and NDRF team came to the spot. I have suffered an injury in my leg and back. The incident happened because too many people gathered at one point.” 

The Pune bridge cave in is a sad reminder of the significance of normal repairs and inspection of public infrastructure. It highlights the will for government to take proactive measures to make sure the protection of holiday makers and locals alike. As the investigation into the incident continues, it is very important to spot the basis reasons and take steps to forestall such tragedies at some point.