New Delhi: At least two people were killed and over 30 others were injured when a bridge near Pune collapsed on Sunday (June 15), according to the authorities.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said two people had died and 32 were injured – six of them critically – due to the collapse of the bridge, which was located over the Indrayani river in Kundamala, about 30 kilometres northwest of Pune.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force were deployed at the site, said Fadnavis, adding that six people had been rescued.

Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde said that “25 to 30 tourists” were feared to have been swept away.

Ajit Pawar, also deputy chief minister, said that as per preliminary information “the condition of this bridge was dilapidated”.

PTI cited Pune district magistrate Jitendra Dudi as saying that 38 people had been rescued, of which 30 are in hospital. According to The Hindu the incident took place at around 3 pm.

The newspaper also quoted an unnamed official as saying that the bridge was in use by tourists and bikers when it collapsed and that the area around it had received heavy rainfall in the last few days.

The Maharashtra government will give Rs 5 lakh as ex gratia payments to the kin of the deceased and foot the medical expenses of those injured, Fadnavis said.

“Instructions have been issued to the administration to conduct a thorough investigation into this accident, and I assure that if any negligence is found regarding maintenance, strict action will be taken against those responsible,” Pawar said.

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