Pune: Vehicular traffic between Kalyan and Ahilyanagar via Malshej Ghat has been closed until further notice following the subsidence of a concrete road near Karanjale village in Junnar taluka, about 105km from Pune.Superintendent of police of the Highway Safety Patrol Shivaji Pawar told TOI that traffic through Malshej Ghat section had been stopped for all vehicles. “Commuters are requested to plan their journey using alternative routes until the road is reopened,” he said.The National Highways Authority of India said in a press release that heavy rainfall at Karanjale village had caused extensive soil erosion in adjoining agricultural land.
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Rainwater flowing down the hill had washed away the soil, damaging the highway’s subgrade posing a serious threat to the foundation of a gabion wall constructed along the highway. As a result, the left carriageway had already been closed, with traffic being allowed on the opposite carriageway. However, authorities had decided to close the other carriageway as well to avoid any risk to commuters.In view of the potential danger, heavy vehicular traffic was temporarily suspended on the Ale Phata-Kalyan route and vehicles diverted through alternative routes until the situation stabilised. Commuters have been advised to use routes via Ale Phata-Rajgurunagar-Chakan-Talegaon MIDC-Lonavla-Mumbai or Ale Phata-Sangamner-Nashik-Kasara-Kalyan-Mumbai.Two youths drown in Kalu river in separate incidentsIn separate incidents on Saturday afternoon, two youths drowned in the Kalu river in the Malshej Ghat section, about 140km from Pune.Malshej Ghat is a popular monsoon destination for tourists from Pune, Thane and Mumbai.The Thane Rural police identified the deceased as Pavan Sathe (18) of Buldhana district and Raman Annapure (20) of Nanded district. Sathe and Annapure had gone to visit the Kalu waterfall with their respective groups from Pune.The first incident occurred around 1.30pm, about 300 metres from the waterfall. Sathe was swept away by gushing waters as he tried to cross the river. Annapure was washed away around 3.30pm while crossing the river near Waghyachi Wadi village.“Rescue teams have recovered both the bodies,” said an officer, adding that Annapure was pursuing an engineering degree at a Pune-based college.
