Prohibitory Orders Imposed at Pune Picnic Spots Following Waterfall Tragedy

Pune, The Pune district administration has put in place prohibitory orders at several popular picnic spots, including Bhushi Dam and the Pavana Dam area, to ensure tourist safety during the monsoon season. These orders, effective from July 2 to 31, ban gatherings of five or more people, restrict entry into deep water bodies, and prohibit taking selfies and making reels at these locations.

The administration has already set up various safety measures for risky tourist spots. These include identifying and marking dangerous areas, having lifeguards and rescue teams on-site, and putting up warning signs. This decision follows a tragic incident on Sunday when a woman and four children were swept away at a waterfall near Bhushi Dam, a well-known picnic spot in Lonavala, Pune district.

According to a notification issued by Pune Collector Suhas Divase on Tuesday, section 163 of the newly implemented Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Disaster Management Act-2005 will be enforced at specific spots across Maval, Mulshi, Ambegaon, Khed, Junnar, Bhor, Velha, Indapur, and Haveli tehsils. Those who violate these orders will face legal action.

The prohibitory orders will be enforced at specific sites, including Bhushi Dam, Bendewadi and Dahuli waterfalls in Maval tehsil, as well as Tiger Point, Lion’s Point, and Rajmachi Point in Khandala, Sahara Bridge, the Pavana Dam area, Tata Dam, and Ghubad Lake. In Mulshi tehsil, the orders cover Mulshi Dam, Tamhini Ghat forest area, and Milkybar waterfall.

In Haveli tehsil, the areas include Khadakwasla and Warasgaon dams, and the surroundings of Sinhgad Fort. In Ambegaon tehsil, the order applies to the Bhimashankar region, Dimbhe Dam area, and Kondhwal waterfall area. In Junnar tehsil, Malshej Ghat, local dams, the Shivneri Fort region, and Manikdoh are covered.

The prohibitory measures also extend to waterfalls around the Bhatghar Dam area and other water bodies and fort areas in Bhor and Velha tehsils. Similarly, water bodies and ghat sections in Khed and Indapur tehsils are included. Separately, in a joint action by the Lonavala Municipal Council and Central Railway, more than 60 makeshift shops near Bhushi Dam have been demolished during an anti-encroachment drive. On Monday, Divase instructed the local administration to take action against unauthorized structures around tourist spots.

Notably, the safety measures at certain locations were outlined amid accidents involving tourists at these locations. During the monsoon season, a large number of tourists visit Bhushi and Pavana dams, Lonavala, Sinhgad, Malshej, Tamhini, and other places in the Western Ghats in Pune district, often venturing into unknown and dangerous areas. The serene setting of Pavana Dam in Lonavala has also seen a series of tragic drownings, highlighting the need for better safety measures in the region. Four people have drowned in Pavana Dam since January 2024, according to the Lonavala police. Rescue organizations like Vanyajeev Rakshak Maval reported recovering 27 bodies from various water bodies in Maval tehsil between March and May this year.

The district collector had asked officials to identify dangerous spots at various tourist places, such as dams, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, and cliffs, and mark them as prohibited areas by installing perimeter lines and warning boards, so tourists do not venture beyond them. Places that are disaster-prone and where safety measures cannot be taken must be closed to tourists, he said. Agencies such as revenue, forest, railways, municipal corporations, and the Public Works Department should deploy divers, rescue boats, lifeguards, and life jackets at water bodies frequented by tourists. Ambulances with first aid facilities should also be deployed, the collector said. “If required, take action against those who violate the rules and regulations,” Divase stated. He has asked local officials to implement all the measures and prevent loss of life.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.