Tourists flouted norms even as police officials were stationed at Indrayani bridge's entry point: Advocate's chilling account of the day before bridge tragedy

For Mrinal Pandey, what started as a weekend getaway to Kundamala, has turned into a haunting reminder of how fragile life can be. Just 24 hours before an iron bridge collapsed at the popular tourist spot in Maval taluka, killing at least four people, including a child, Pandey and her friend had been standing near the very same structure, admiring the monsoon-swollen Indrayani river below.
'Being a weekend, my friend and I visited the same place where the bridge collapsed. It was shocking to receive the news of bridge collapse the very next day,' recalls Pandey, a Nigdi-based advocate. 'We just find ourselves fortunate as we could have been in the same situation.'
The tragic incident unfolded at 3:30pm on Sunday when the allegedly unsafe iron bridge gave way under the weight of scores of weekend tourists. The structure, already weakened by age and neglect, couldn't withstand the crowd that had gathered to enjoy the scenic beauty of the rain-fed river during the monsoon season.
For Pandey, who has been visiting Kundamala for the past couple of years, the collapse wasn't entirely unexpected. 'We have been visiting this place for the last couple of years, and have witnessed people violating the said orders. The locals used to ply their vehicles over the 'unfit' bridge even when the restriction notice was placed right at the bridge's entry,' she explains.
The irony wasn't lost on her as even on Saturday, when police officials were present near the bridge's entry point, tourists continued to flout restrictions. 'What's the use of such officials if tourists enter the restricted area?' she said.
The transformation of Kundamala from a serene spiritual destination to a crowded tourist hotspot reflects a broader trend across Maharashtra's scenic locations. Sanjay Mali, a resident of nearby Shelarmala village, has witnessed this change firsthand.
'The bridge near Kund Devi temple was originally a spiritual place that was not known to many. However, Instagram reels and other social media platforms made this place popular, and post-pandemic, the crowd coming here has increased significantly, particularly during the monsoon season,' Mali said.
While social media exposure has boosted local tourism and economy, it has also led to overcrowding of infrastructure never designed to handle such volumes. 'The bridge, falling under the irrigation department's jurisdiction, had been crying out for attention for years. No one has taken the repair and maintenance work seriously, and this negligence caused the loss of four innocent lives,' added Mali.
Reflecting on the tragedy, Pandey believes that responsibility lies with multiple stakeholders. 'Every stakeholder has equal responsibility in such incidents. Accountability as to who was responsible for crowd handling must be fixed first. Secondly, tourists should behave responsibly by obeying the notified rules and regulations. And most importantly, the administration must survey the ageing structures and take prompt action to either prohibit entry into them or else repair them.'
'We were just lucky,' said Pandey but her luck came at the cost of others' misfortune. 'Returning to normal life after such a close call isn't easy. Every weekend trip now carries the weight of 'what if.' Every scenic bridge triggers memories of that afternoon when fortune smiled on us and frowned on others,' she added.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Time of India

2 hours ago

• Time of India

Tour operator told to refund elderly couple for cancelled tour in Covid times

Ahmedabad: A consumer commission here has ordered a tour operator to refund the full amount with interest, along with Rs 55,000 compensation, to an elderly couple whose tours to Japan and Europe could not take place due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The couple was reluctant to go to the UK, Ireland, and Scotland upon the operator's insistence three years later. This case involved Asha and Yogesh Doshi, residents of the Ambawadi area, who paid Rs 5.30 lakh in 2019 to Mumbai-based Neem Holidays Pvt Ltd for two tours — Japan and Europe in 2020. Due to the Covid pandemic, the tours were cancelled. When normalcy returned, they requested the same tour package, but the operator could not arrange it. Considering that people were still reeling under financial stress due to Covid, the couple did not demand their money back. In 2022, the tour operator offered them a 13-day package for Australia. They agreed and paid Rs 10,000 extra, but this did not take place. A year later, the operator offered the couple a tour to the United Kingdom. The couple refused this trip, yet their tickets were booked. They requested the company not to force them to accept this package tour and demanded their money back. As the operator did not respond, the couple sued it with the District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, Ahmedabad City to get the refund. The operator's lawyer appeared, but the reply was not filed. The commission said that since the money was lying with the operator, the complainants did not have any choice but to agree to the unreasonable request. However, compelling them for another tour against their wish was harassment. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "The complainant's money has been wrongfully withheld by the opponent, and therefore the complainants are entitled to receive the full money of the package tour from the opponent," it said. The commission ordered the operator to return Rs 5.40 lakh with 8% interest, along with Rs 55,000 extra towards compensation for causing "physical harassment and mental agony" and towards the expenditure the couple incurred on litigation.

Business Standard

3 hours ago

• Business Standard

Air fares surge post Ahmedabad plane crash, rampant price gouging

Following the Ahmedabad plane crash, a sharp increase in air ticket prices is observed, something that can be described as price gouging, or charging excessively high rates. According to reports, nearly 41 per cent tickets have been cancelled, said Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council Chairperson Jyoti Mayal. A travel agent mentioned that a ticket, which was priced slightly above Rs 6,000 before the accident, is now being sold for around Rs 34,000. Mayal said that there has been a significant rise in ticket cancellations following the Ahmedabad plane accident. Speaking to ANI, she said, "I don't want to take names, but some airlines have increased their ticket prices. This is reportedly because flights that are running full due to cancellations have seen a spike in ticket fares. According to her information, around 41 per cent of tickets have been cancelled. However, similar trends were also noticed recently in connection with Jammu and Kashmir." She further mentioned that they are receiving queries from people asking whether the prices of exit row seats will now increase. "I would like to clarify that there is no such information yet suggesting that the fares for exit row seats have increased. She said that it is certain that most people are now demanding seats in the exit row. She also pointed out that travel agents have suffered significant losses in recent days. Whenever any adverse situation arises, the travel trade is the first to be affected," she told ANI. Roopak Punyani, owner of Delhi-based travel company Travel Canvas India Private Limited, said that apart from the overall global situation and recent tensions between India and Pakistan, the Ahmedabad accident has had a serious negative impact. Cancellations are mainly coming from the corporate sector. Most people are now ensuring that they avoid flying in Boeing aircraft, he said. While he did not directly say that this has caused a rise in ticket prices, he noted that direct flights from certain locations are no longer operating. As a result, passengers are having to pay higher fares due to having to travel on connecting flights. Saurabh Tiwari, a travel agent at Sushant Travels, Delhi, said that they are receiving a large number of flight ticket cancellation requests. Passengers are quite scared. Some travellers are even converting their air travel plans into train journeys, causing them significant inconvenience and loss. He also mentioned that cancellations have impacted ticket prices, leading to a surge. For example, a flight from Delhi to Dhaka, which used to cost around Rs 7,000 to Rs 9,000, is now priced between Rs 30,000 to Rs 34,000. According to him, airline companies have increased ticket fares, and this change is being seen due to the cancellation of Air India flights following the Ahmedabad plane accident. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Business Standard

4 hours ago

• Business Standard

US urges citizens to avoid Iraq travel amid rising Iran-Israel conflict

The United States has issued an alert to its citizens against travelling to Iraq under any circumstances, citing the threat of terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, and civil unrest amid escalating regional tensions linked to the Iran-Israel conflict. The advisory comes after the US Department of State on June 11 ordered the departure of non-emergency government personnel from Iraq, underscoring the deteriorating security conditions in the country. 'Do not travel to Iraq for any reason,' the US Embassy and Consulate in Iraq said in an alert, pointing to the 'US government's limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in Iraq.' According to the updated travel advisory, American citizens in Iraq face a range of serious threats including violence by terrorist and insurgent groups, anti-US militia activity, and frequent attacks involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs), indirect fire, and drones. These attacks have occurred even in major urban centres. 'US government personnel in Iraq are required to live and work under strict security due to serious threats,' the Embassy said, adding that Baghdad-based staff are prohibited from using the Baghdad International Airport due to ongoing risks. The US has also cautioned against travel to areas near Iraq's northern borders, warning of aerial bombardments, armed clashes, and heightened militant activity. American nationals are particularly discouraged from attempting to cross into Syria through Iraq. 'US citizens should not travel through Iraq to engage in armed conflict in Syria,' the advisory noted. 'They would face extreme personal risks — kidnapping, injury, or death — and legal risks including arrest, fines, and expulsion.' 10-years jail for illegal border crossing The Kurdistan Regional Government has announced that those caught illegally crossing the Iraq-Syria border could face prison terms of up to ten years. Adding to the dangers, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also issued flight advisories for civil aviation operating in and around Iraqi airspace. Travellers have been urged to check FAA regulations before making any travel decisions. Apart from security threats, regular demonstrations, protests, and labour strikes across Iraq further complicate travel and movement within the country. The Embassy warned that such events could erupt without notice and potentially turn violent. 'Don't rely on US govt assistance' For those who still choose to remain in or travel to Iraq despite the warnings, the US government strongly advises preparation of a comprehensive personal security plan, arranging legal documents such as wills and powers of attorney, and ensuring that loved ones have access to essential records in case of emergencies. 'Have departure plans that do not rely on US government assistance,' the advisory said.