Pune: Authorities on Friday shut Sinhagad Fort for tourists after a landslide near the main entrance following heavy rain over the prior two days. Meanwhile, another landslide blocked the Varandha Ghat road on the Bhor-Mahad route, disrupting traffic.Forest officials said the fort would remain closed for the day as continuous rainfall increased the risk of further landslides in the ghat section.“Due to local conditions and downpour, there is a risk of further landslides in the ghat section. Therefore, a decision has been made to keep Sinhagad Fort closed to tourists on Friday,” a forest official told TOI, choosing anonymity.Officials confirmed that a landslide occurred near the main entrance of Sinhagad Fort on Friday morning. While no injuries were reported, the authorities appealed to tourists to exercise caution and follow safety instructions while planning visits to the hill fort.Heavy rain also triggered a landslide on the Varandha Ghat road within Shirgaon village limits in Bhor taluka on the Bhor-Mahad route. Soil, rocks, trees and shrubs slid onto the roadway, bringing traffic on the entire stretch to a standstill.Fortunately, no casualties were reported as there were no vehicles or people at the affected spot when the landslide occurred.A team from the Bhor administration reached the site and launched debris-clearing operations. Traffic will resume only after the road is cleared and declared safe for movement, officials said.The landslides came as rainfall intensified across Pune district and the Western Ghats.In Pune district, Bhor recorded the highest rainfall at 74mm in the 24 hours ending 8.30am on Friday, followed by Chinchwad (36.5mm), Malin (33mm), Pashan (26.1mm), Nimgiri (26mm), Shivajinagar (25.3mm), Dapodi (25mm), NDA (20.5mm), Dudulgaon (14mm), Rajgurunagar (13mm), Ballalwadi (11.5mm), Talegaon (7.5mm), Narayangaon (7mm), Haveli and Shirur (5.5mm each), Daund (3mm), and Baramati and Koregaon Park (1mm each).Rainfall was even heavier across the ghat catchments till Friday morning. Tamhini received 170mm, Bhira 210mm, Dungerwadi 141mm, Lonavala (Official) 140mm, Dawdi 135mm, Shirgaon 130mm, Dharavi 122mm, Lonavala (Tata) 116mm, Ambone 108mm, Khopoli 100mm, and Walvan 96mm.Among major lakes, Tulsi received 164mm of rainfall, Vihar 137mm, Bhatsa 73mm, and Tansa 55mm, during the same period.Authorities have advised commuters to avoid unnecessary travel through ghat sections during periods of intense rainfall and to follow official advisories, as the possibility of additional landslides remains high.Weekend leisure travel has also taken a hit. The heavy showers have prompted many citizens to err on the side of caution and rethink their weekend plans, particularly those involving trips to nearby forts and ghat sections.“We had planned a day trip to Sinhagad with our children, but after hearing about the landslide and the fort’s closure, we cancelled it immediately. It’s disappointing, but no outing is worth risking our safety during such heavy rain,” said Shubhangi Joshi, a resident of Kothrud.“Our group of friends had planned a drive through Tamhini this weekend, but with the rainfall and repeated advisories, we’ve decided to stay in Pune instead. The monsoon is beautiful, but it’s also unpredictable, and it’s better to be cautious,” another Piyush Waghmare, a Kharadi resident.
