72 landslide-prone villages in Pune on high alert; officials told to draw up evacuation plan

Time of India

8 hours ago

P
une: The district administration has placed 72 landslide-prone villages on high alert as the monsoon intensified across the region resulting in heavy rain in the last few days.
Officials have been directed to make immediate arrangements for evacuation in case of emergencies.
The alert is based on the Geological Survey of India (GSI)'s 2023 report that lists several at-risk areas across 15 talukas, including Maval (15 villages), Velhe (10), Mulshi (8), Khed (6), Junnar and Bhor (5 each). Among high-risk villages are Kalewadi, Ambwane, Ghutke, Nayphad, and Dhanvali — many of which lie close to hill slopes or riverbanks.
Collector Jitendra Dudi has instructed taluka-level officers and tehsildars to identify the most vulnerable areas and prepare contingency plans. "Evacuation and relocation protocols must be ready and drills must be carried out to ensure a timely response during heavy rain," said Vitthal Banote, a district disaster management official.
Tehsildars have been tasked with auditing structures in high-risk zones and identifying safe locations where residents can be temporarily shifted.
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A 24-hour monitoring cell will be established in each taluka, and emergency response teams are being equipped and trained. The administration has also instructed that roads prone to flooding be barricaded and appropriate warning signage installed.
"Villages close to water bodies need to be warned well in advance, and encroachments in high-risk areas must be cleared. Our focus is on preventing incidents," Banote said.
Volunteer groups such as Aapda Mitra, which assist during disasters, are also being provided with essential equipment.
Meanwhile, funds for relocating residents in three of the most vulnerable villages — located in Bhor, Khed, and Mulshi talukas — are still awaited from state govt. Officials confirmed that a revised proposal has been sent for approval.
Authorities have stressed the need for public awareness drives and rapid deployment of safety measures to avoid a repeat of past tragedies.
After the 2014 Malin landslide in Ambegaon taluka, which claimed several lives, the number of identified landslide-prone villages in Pune increased from 23 to 72.
Varandha Ghat closed for 3 months
As a precautionary measure, the district collectorate has ordered the closure of Varandha Ghat — a vital mountain pass linking Pune to Mahad — to heavy vehicles from June 1 to Sept 30 due to heightened landslide risks.
The ghat, which runs through Bhor taluka, sees frequent landslides and slope failures during monsoon.
The ongoing road-widening work has added to its vulnerability. Officials emphasised that trucks and buses will not be allowed, and during red or orange weather alerts issued by IMD, even light vehicles will face restrictions.
The steep terrain, combined with dense forests, slippery roads, and poor visibility, poses a serious hazard to commuters in the rainy season. Authorities have advised motorists to use alternative routes such as Mangaon-Nizampur-Tamhini-Mulshi-Pirangut during the closure.