Pune Administration Sets New Safety Measures for Tourists After Waterfall Tragedy

A day after a woman and four children were swept away at a waterfall near Bhushi Dam in Lonavala, the Pune district administration issued guidelines for tourists due to the monsoon. Collector Suhas Divase instructed authorities to conduct a survey to identify potential hazards and ensure necessary measures for the safety of tourists visiting Maval, Mulshi, Khed, Junnar, Bhhor, Velha, and Ambegaon, which are located in the Western Ghats.

Safety Measures for Tourists

Divase directed district officials to visit picnic spots such as rivers, lakes, dams, waterfalls, forts, and forest areas to ensure safety measures. He emphasised the need to demarcate prohibited areas by installing warning boards. "Those places which are disaster-prone and where the safety measures cannot be taken must be shut for tourists," he said.

A significant number of people visit Bhushi, Pavana, Lonavala, Sinhgad, Malshej, and Tamhini ghat during the monsoon. Agencies like revenue, forest, railways, municipal corporations, and PWD should deploy divers, rescue boats, lifeguards, and life jackets at water bodies frequented by tourists. Divase also asked the district administration to involve NGOs, rescue foundations, trekkers, and locals in these efforts.

Visitors will not be allowed inside such spots in the forest after 6 pm. This measure aims to prevent accidents and ensure that tourists are safe during their visits. The administration is taking these steps seriously following recent incidents.

The Pune district administration's proactive approach aims to prevent further tragedies during the monsoon season. By identifying potential hazards and implementing strict safety measures at popular tourist spots, they hope to safeguard visitors' lives.