Nilesh Khollam, an advocate, and his family narrowly escaped a tragic fate when the iron bridge on the Indrayani River near Kundamala, Pune, collapsed on Sunday afternoon. Khollam recounted his harrowing experience, stating, "I was saved from the jaws of death. If I was just one step ahead, I would have been one of the victims." The incident, which occurred around 3:30 pm, resulted in four fatalities and one missing person.

Khollam and his family were mere feet away from the section of the bridge that gave way. He described it as a moment of sheer luck, emphasizing how close he came to being directly impacted by the collapse. The bridge, already crowded with tourists eager to witness the monsoon rains, buckled under the weight and pressure, sending people tumbling into the river below.

Another survivor, Dipak Virkar, an 18-year-old, regularly visits the Kundmala Devi temple every Sunday. He recalled the moments before the collapse, "The bridge was packed with two-wheelers with no space for pedestrians. I saw the bridge bending. The part, which collapsed had over 50 people.” Virkar was fortunate to have fallen a foot away from the stream and managed to escape with an injury to his lower back.

The collapse also deeply affected 46-year-old Chitralekha Anil Kumar and her 22-year-old daughter, Latika, whose Sunday outing turned into a nightmare. Chitralekha suffered fractures to her tibia and humerus and was admitted to the intensive care unit.

In the immediate aftermath, the response was swift. The 108 control room dispatched seven ambulances to the scene, arriving within 20 minutes. Dr. Mashmoom Wagu from the 108 team assisted the NDRF team in providing treatment to the injured. A local fisherman, Ajay Pardhe, became a hero by diving into the river and rescuing at least five people. Pardhe recounted, "I saw the bridge bending and then it broke into two parts. We heard a huge noise. Then I dived into the river and saved at least 5 of them.”

Shamika Mane, a 28-year-old from Chinchwad, is in the ICU with ankle fractures requiring surgery. Tragically, her husband and son died in the accident.

The Indrayani River bridge collapse is a stark reminder of the fragility of infrastructure and the importance of safety measures, especially during peak tourist seasons and adverse weather conditions. The stories of survival and loss paint a vivid picture of the chaos and devastation that unfolded that Sunday afternoon.