04 July,2026 06:07 PM IST | Pune | Archana Dahiwal
Large amounts of mud, rocks, trees and shrubs fell onto the road during rains. Pic/Special Arrangement
Relentless heavy rainfall over the past two days has severely affected normal life across Pune district, causing landslides, waterlogging, fallen trees and major traffic congestion.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for the ghat regions of Pune and Raigad, warning of continued heavy rainfall. Authorities have advised residents and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel, especially through hilly and landslide-prone areas.
A major landslide struck the Varandha Ghat on the Bhor-Mahad Road in Shirgaon village, Bhor taluka, after continuous rainfall.
Large amounts of mud, rocks, trees and shrubs fell onto the road, completely blocking traffic on the important Pune-Konkan route.
Fortunately, no vehicles were passing through the area at the time of the landslide, and no injuries were reported.
Officials from the Bhor administration, the Public Works Department (PWD) and disaster management teams reached the site immediately. Earthmoving machines have been deployed to remove the debris, and the road will reopen once it is declared safe.
Heavy rain also triggered a landslide at Kusgaon Khind, where soil and rocks blocked the road and caused long queues of stranded vehicles.
Restoration work is continuing despite persistent rainfall.
The officials have temporarily closed Sinhagad Fort after a landslide near the main entrance.
Several large boulders fell onto the stone steps leading to the fort. The incident was discovered during an inspection by members of the Forest Conservation Committee.
As a safety measure, visitors have been barred from entering the fort until further notice.
Officials also said that another minor landslide had occurred on the Sinhagad Ghat road a few days earlier, briefly disrupting traffic.
Heavy rainfall has caused widespread waterlogging and severe traffic congestion in many parts of Pune city.
A large tree fell near Mangalmurti Chowk in Rasta Peth at around 3.30 am, damaging several parked vehicles. Another tree collapse was reported in Yamunanagar, Nigdi, later in the day.
No injuries were reported in either incident.
Emergency teams continue to respond to complaints of fallen trees, flooded roads and traffic disruptions across the city.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has pre-positioned rescue teams across vulnerable districts in Maharashtra and Goa in preparation for further heavy rainfall.
Teams from the 5th Battalion have been deployed in Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Dharashiv, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Thane, Palghar, Mumbai, Nagpur and North Goa.
According to Commandant Santosh Bahadur Singh, the teams are equipped with modern rescue equipment, flood response gear and communication systems. They remain on standby and are coordinating closely with district administrations to ensure a rapid response to any emergency.
The officials have appealed to residents to remain cautious during the ongoing spell of heavy rain.
People have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel through ghat sections, stay away from landslide-prone areas and follow official weather advisories until conditions improve.
