pune-issues-tourist-guidelines-after-lonavala-tragedy

The Pune district administration issued guidelines for tourists in light of the monsoon following an incident in which a woman and four children were swept away by a waterfall near Bhushi Dam in Lonavala. 

VIDEO | Visuals of five persons who drowned in a waterfall close to the backwater of Bhushi Dam in Pune's Lonavala area earlier today.

Officials said that the incident happened at 12:30pm when a family was out for a picnic at the scenic spot. They said the bodies of Shahista… pic.twitter.com/qOmk0qQHPa

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 30, 2024

On Monday, Collector Suhas Divase instructed authorities to conduct a survey to identify potential hazards and ensure necessary safety measures for tourists visiting Maval, Mulshi, Khed, Junnar, Bhhor, Velha, and Ambegaon, which are all located in the Western Ghats, as stated by an official.

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

"A lot of people come to 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 which are frequented by tourists. Divase also asked the district administration to rope in NGOs, rescue foundations, trekkers and locals," he added.

Visitors will not be allowed inside such spots in the forest after 6 pm, Divase said.