Unsafe Bridge Grill Collapses in Pune's Mulshi Taluka After Heavy Rain

The protective grill of a bridge connecting Hotale village and Girivan to the Kolwan-Paud road in Mulshi taluka has collapsed due to heavy rain over the past two days, making the route dangerous for vehicles. The grill had already been heavily damaged around 10 days ago when a vehicle crashed into it.

The bridge itself has been declared unsafe for four-wheelers and heavy vehicles by the gram panchayat for the past few years. A warning board has been installed at the bridge, but the recent collapse has heightened the risk.

Dhanashree Palkar, gram panchayat sarpanch, said, 'The grill was damaged in an accident 10-12 days ago and completely got swept away due to the rain in the last two days. The bridge itself is dangerous for heavy vehicles and we have requested the government for a completely new bridge.' She added that construction work in Girivan, a private hill station with multiple properties and bungalows, leads to heavy vehicles plying on the bridge.

The incident underscores the infrastructure challenges in the region, where ageing or damaged bridges pose risks to residents, especially during monsoon season. Local authorities have urged caution and reiterated the need for a new bridge.