Dilapidated Ulhasnagar bridge collapses

Ulhasnagar: In the wake of the recent bridge collapse over Pune’s Indrayani River, a similar alarming incident occurred in Ulhasnagar’s Camp No. 5 area on Sunday evening. A decades-old bridge built over a stormwater drain in Ganesh Nagar collapsed due to heavy rains, narrowly missing a tragic accident. A young girl crossing the bridge escaped and a child and woman were also reportedly close to danger at the moment of collapse. Fortunately, no injuries or casualties were reported.

However, the collapse has caused massive disruption, cutting off access to over 600 houses in the locality. Residents now face extreme hardships, with children, elderly citizens, school students, patients, and working individuals stranded. Locals have voiced strong resentment against the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) for ignoring repeated warnings about the dangerous state of the bridge.

According to long-time residents, the bridge had been in a dilapidated condition for several years. Despite multiple complaints, written petitions, public protests, and memorandums submitted to the municipal administration, no concrete steps were taken to repair or replace the bridge. This negligence has now resulted in complete infrastructural failure, exposing the civic body’s apathy.

While Speaking to The Perfect Voice, local resident Radhakrishna Sathe stated, “We have been complaining to the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation for the last two years. Despite repeated reminders, no repairs were ever carried out. A child and a woman narrowly escaped the collapse. This could have been a tragic incident.”

Following the collapse, angry residents held a symbolic protest at the site by staging a sit-in and weeping demonstration to draw attention to their plight. The atmosphere in the locality remains tense, with people demanding immediate construction of a new bridge and swift civic action before the situation worsens with further rainfall.

The Perfect Voice attempted to contact UMC Commissioner Manisha Awale for an official response, but she did not answer calls. The administration’s silence on such a serious public safety issue has only deepened citizens' frustration and highlighted the perceived insensitivity of local authorities.

With the monsoon just beginning and more rain expected, residents are calling on the municipal administration to act urgently and begin construction of a new, safe bridge without delay.