At least two people have died after an iron bridge collapsed in western India, triggering a major rescue operation.

Officials say six others have been seriously injured, and people rescued from the Indrayani River which runs underneath the bridge in Maharashtra’s Pune district.

Witnesses say a large group of people were crossing the bridge when it gave way on Sunday at about 15:30 local time (11:00 BST).

Maharashtra chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said India’s National Disaster Response Force had been deployed, adding that “relief work has been immediately accelerated”.

“I was deeply saddened to hear the news of the tragedy that occurred when a bridge over the Indrayani River collapsed in Indori, near Talegaon in Pune district,” Fadnavis posted on X.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule added: “It is feared that some citizens on the bridge may have been swept away.”

Eyewitness Raghuveer Shelar told Reuters news agency: “The bridge suddenly collapsed. At least 20-25 people were swept away.

“Some rescue workers saved a few tourists and some are feared trapped in the bridge debris.”