Mumbai: Maulana Ilyas Khan Falahi, President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind – Maharashtra, expressed deep sorrow and concern over the tragic collapse of the bridge over the Indrayani River near Talegaon in Pune district. The incident resulted in the loss of four lives and injuries to more than 50 people.
In his statement, Maulana Ilyas Khan said, “We are deeply grieved by the unfortunate collapse of the old and unsafe bridge at Kundmala, Talegaon. The loss of innocent lives, many of whom were tourists and locals, is heart-wrenching. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind extends heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and prays for the swift recovery of the injured.”
He sharply criticized the gross negligence of the authorities and demanded a high-level judicial inquiry to ensure accountability. “It is unacceptable that despite repeated written complaints from villagers and elected representatives since 2017, and despite funds being sanctioned, no repair or reconstruction was undertaken. This criminal negligence shows a complete disregard for human life and public safety,” he added.
Highlighting the fact that over 8,000 people crossed the bridge every weekend, Maulana Khan noted the absence of any structural audit, warning signage enforcement, or safety measures. “This tragedy could have been avoided,” he said.
JIH Maharashtra has put forth the following demands:
1. A judicial inquiry under the supervision of a sitting High Court judge.
2. Immediate public release of all records, complaints, and fund allocations related to the bridge.
3. Strict punitive action against those responsible for this grave oversight.
4. Adequate and speedy compensation to all victims and their families.
5. Fast-tracked construction of a safe, new bridge and urgent audits of similar aged infrastructure across Maharashtra.
Maulana Ilyas Khan urged the state government to take this incident seriously and prioritize people’s safety over red tape and political indifference.
