The protective railing of a bridge linking Hotale village and Girivan to the Kolwan-Paud road in Mulshi taluka has given way following intense rainfall over the last two days, rendering the route hazardous for vehicular traffic. Approximately ten days earlier, this railing had sustained significant damage when a vehicle collided with it. Furthermore, the local gram panchayat has deemed the bridge unsafe for four-wheelers and heavy vehicles for several years, and a warning sign has been placed at the site.

Dhanashree Palkar, the sarpanch of the gram panchayat, remarked, “The railing was compromised in an accident about 10 to 12 days ago and was completely washed away by the recent rains. The bridge has long been deemed unsafe for heavy vehicles, and we have formally requested the government to construct a new bridge.” She noted that construction activities in Girivan, a private hill station featuring numerous properties and bungalows, result in increased heavy vehicle traffic across the bridge.

Devika Nadig, secretary of the Girivan Welfare Society, expressed, “We have been collaborating with both the gram panchayat and the zilla parishad to address the bridge’s condition. The river becomes extremely turbulent during heavy rains. Children of the local workers rely on buses to attend the government school located across the stream, and the bridge poses a risk for their journey.”

Gram Sevak Poonam Suryavanshi informed The Indian Express that she has reached out to authorities regarding the bridge’s repair. “The bridge falls under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department, and I have sent them a letter. The railing is expected to be fixed within the next two days.”

Last year, another bridge in Kundamala, which had been labeled unfit for vehicles, collapsed, resulting in the tragic deaths of several tourists.

Soham Shah serves as a correspondent for The Indian Express in Pune. A journalism graduate with a background in fact-checking, he approaches reporting with a detail-oriented and research-focused methodology.

Professional Background

Role: Correspondent covering education and city affairs in Pune.

Specialization: His primary focus is on education; however, he also engages extensively with civic matters, public health, human rights, and state politics.

Key Strength: Soham emphasizes data-driven reporting concerning school and college education, government documents, and public infrastructure.

Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)

His late 2025 articles illustrate a shift from education-focused reporting to impactful investigative and human rights stories:

• Investigations & Governance
• “Express Impact: Mother’s name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site” (Dec 20, 2025): Coverage of a significant policy shift by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) stemming from his previous reports on gender inclusivity in administrative documentation.
• “44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest” (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative report on real estate irregularities involving prominent political families.

• Education & Campus Life
• “Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts” (Sept 12, 2025): An investigative article addressing the shortage of professors at Savitribai Phule Pune University.
• “Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6” (July 2): A detailed examination of the contentious move to introduce a third language from Class 1.
• “Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report” (Jan 2025): An analysis of discrepancies in the state’s educational data despite an increase in student enrollment.

• Human Rights & Social Issues
• “Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend” (Dec 17, 2025): A poignant opinion piece addressing the themes of love crimes and honor killings in contemporary India.
• “’People disrespect the disabled’: Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians” (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became a target of global online harassment, highlighting issues surrounding disability and cyberbullying.

Signature Style

Soham is recognized for his focus on civil liberties. His reporting often advocates for the rights of marginalized individuals—whether it involves students fighting for democratic representation, victims of regressive societal norms, or residents confronting deteriorating urban infrastructure, as seen in his contributions to “Breathless Pune.” He skillfully connects localized issues in Pune to broader national discussions regarding law and freedom.

X (Twitter): @SohamShah07