In the last few years, India has seen several deadly bridge collapses, each one raising serious concerns about safety, poor maintenance, and lack of accountability. From Gujarat’s Morbi disaster to the recent Pune footbridge collapse, these tragic events are a wake-up call.
On June 15, 2025, a small iron bridge over the Indrayani River in Pune collapsed while over 100 people were on it. At least four people died, and many more were hurt. Investigators say rust and overcrowding were likely to blame. The Maharashtra government has promised to inspect all similar bridges and take action if any officials or engineers are found guilty of neglect.
In Bihar, bridges have been collapsing so frequently that the Supreme Court had to get involved. In July 2024, the court asked the state government to explain what it was doing to keep people safe. A petition asked for all bridges in the state to be regularly checked and fitted with sensors to track their condition in real time.
In October 2022, a suspension bridge in Morbi, Gujarat, suddenly gave way, killing 135 people. It had recently been repaired by a private company called Oreva Group, but the work was poorly done. The cables were badly rusted, and some parts were welded instead of properly fixed. Even worse, the company reopened the bridge without a safety clearance or expert inspection. The local government, the Morbi Municipality, didn’t check or approve the work—and did nothing after being warned the bridge wasn’t safe. After the collapse, the Gujarat government began asking tough questions and even considered dissolving the local civic body responsible.
These incidents have sparked widespread demands for systemic reforms in India’s infrastructure management. Experts advocate for periodic structural audits, mandatory fitness certifications before reopening public structures, and the establishment of dedicated bodies to oversee infrastructure safety. The Morbi tragedy, in particular, has highlighted the dangers of outsourcing critical maintenance tasks without adequate oversight and technical expertise.
These tragedies are not just about faulty bridges, they’re about people who lost their lives because of carelessness and poor governance. If authorities don’t act now to improve safety and hold the right people accountable, more lives could be at risk. India needs stronger rules, smarter oversight, and above all, a real commitment to protecting its people from preventable disasters.
