Pune: Landslide Threat on Sinhagad Ghat Road Raises Concerns
Sinhagad, 3rd July 2023: Heavy rainfall has resulted in landslides at multiple locations along the ghat road of Sinhagad Fort. No accidents occurred as the landslides happened during the night.
Landslides are a recurring problem during the monsoon season on the Sinhagad ghat road. Last year, a young trekker lost life in a landslide incident. The ghat road has been frequently closed to traffic due to landslides.
The Forest Department allocated funds of approximately one and a half crores to the Public Works Department a year ago for crack prevention work, but budget approval is still pending. This year, with the onset of rainfall, landslides have started on a larger scale. Recently, stones fell from a cliff near Pune Darwaja, and now multiple sections of the ghat road have collapsed.
The most perilous location, the first sharp bend on the ghat road, has experienced a substantial crack collapse, resulting in a pile of stones obstructing the roadway. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from this incident.
However, due to a lack of coordination between the Forest Department and the Public Works Department, the lives of tourists remain at risk. Forest Department officials seem disinterested in any work apart from collecting fees at the checkpoint at the foot of Sinhagad.
Last year, Forest Department officials made effective efforts to manage traffic on the ghat road. However, this year, it appears that little attention has been given to addressing these concerns, indicating potential inconveniences for tourists in the future.
The administration’s lack of seriousness raises questions. With fifteen to twenty thousand tourists visiting Sinhagad on weekends, the narrow ghat road experiences vehicle queues extending for several kilometers. In such circumstances, if a crack were to collapse, the loss of life could be substantial. Despite these risks, the administration has not implemented any plans to alleviate traffic congestion or establish emergency support systems on the ghat road.
The forest department officials said that debris is promptly removed by their team.
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