Festival concludes, but pandals stay
The multi-tonne structures crashed across both carriageways around 4.30pm after heavy rain and strong winds battered the area. Removing the fallen structures proved challenging due to their size and weight.
The residents said the incident could have claimed lives had the arches fallen during peak traffic. This is a public safety issue, not just a permission violation,” commuter Akash Kulkarni said. “PCMC says no permission was granted. 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. Police and PCMC shouldn’t wait for a death before treating this as a serious offence,” Deepti Deshpande of Dighi said.
“This could have been a fatal accident. The police should register an FIR against those responsible. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.