Pune bridge collapse: ‘Was Maharashtra govt waiting for an accident to happen?’

Blaming the Maharashtra government for the deaths due to the collapse of a bridge over the Indrayani river in Pune, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Harshvardhan Sapkal demanded that the government fix responsibility and file a case of culpable homicide against the concerned officials.

 

“Why did the dangerous bridge remain open when it was known that hundreds of tourists visit Kundamala during the monsoon,” he asked.

 

Sapkal said that the iron bridge at Kundamala was weak, though the government said that funds were approved for it a year ago. “Why was the work not done for a year? Was the government waiting for an accident to happen? The administration is saying that a 'board' was installed on that bridge.

 

“Because of the lax attitude of the administration, 55 tourists were swept away. Many of them were rescued, but four people were killed and six were seriously injured – who is responsible for this?

 

“Giving Rs 5 lakh each to the relatives of the deceased does not mean that the government's responsibility ends there. Until there is strict punishment, no one will take it seriously and such accidents will reoccur, leading to deaths of innocent people,” Sapkal said.

 

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has ordered a structural audit of all dangerous bridges after the Indrayani incident.

 

“The audit is just a farce. Accidents happen, people die and the government throws some money at them and forgets about it, this vicious cycle should be stopped,” Sapkal said.

India