Pune: Residents have demanded criminal action against Ganesh mandals after three massive steel arches, allegedly put up without civic permission, collapsed on the busy Pune-Alandi road in Dighi on Monday evening, causing a nearly five-hour traffic jam and raising serious safety concerns.The multi-tonne structures crashed across both carriageways around 4.30pm after heavy rain and strong winds battered the area. The residents said the incident could have claimed lives had the arches fallen during peak traffic. “This could have been a fatal accident. The police should register an FIR against those responsible. This is a public safety issue, not just a permission violation,” commuter Akash Kulkarni said.Removing the fallen structures proved challenging due to their size and weight. Police, aided by residents, managed traffic while Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) personnel used cutting equipment to dismantle and clear the steel arches. Traffic was fully restored only around 10pm.Inspector Vivek Patil from Dighi-Alandi traffic division said all three structures had collapsed horizontally and blocked both lanes. “Since these were steel structures, we had to call a corporation vehicle and personnel to cut and remove them. The clearance operation continued for nearly five to six hours,” he said.The situation was worsened by rainwater flowing across the roadway, making movement difficult for motorists.Residents questioned how such large structures were allowed to be put up without intervention from civic authorities. “If these arches were illegal, why were they allowed to come up in the first place? Someone could have been killed. Responsibility must be fixed,” a Dighi resident said.Rajesh Aagale, deputy commissioner of PCMC’s skyline department, confirmed that no permissions had been granted for the arches. “These mandals had not taken permission from us to put up the structures. We have instructed ward officials to ensure such arches are removed immediately across the city,” he said.The admission intensified criticism of both the civic administration and police, with citizens arguing that authorities failed to act despite the arches being prominently installed over a public road. “PCMC says no permission was granted. The next question is why no action was taken while these structures were being installed. These aren’t small banners that could be overlooked. They’re massive steel structures looming over a public road. PCMC must explain who allowed them to remain,” another resident said.Additional commissioner Basavraj Teli of Pimpri Chinchwad police told TOI Dighi police had been directed to probe the matter and verify permissions. “Based on the report, appropriate action will be initiated against the violators,” he said.The residents argued that clearing the collapsed structures was insufficient and demanded FIRs against those responsible. “An FIR must be filed. Otherwise, organisers will keep thinking they can break rules and get away with it. Police and PCMC shouldn’t wait for a death before treating this as a serious offence,” Deepti Deshpande of Dighi said.The incident has also renewed concerns over the safety of temporary arches, hoardings and festival-related structures erected during the monsoon, when heavy rain and strong winds can compromise their stability.
