Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has instructed all ward offices to evacuate occupants from deteriorating buildings and structures as heavy rains continue. During its annual structural audit in April, the civic body identified 136 old wadas and buildings across Pune as unsafe, with 103 of them categorized as highly hazardous. The PMC has urged authorities to ensure the prompt vacating and securing of these highly dangerous sites.
These old wadas are primarily located in Pune’s peth areas, including Kasba, Shukrawar, Raviwar, Sadashiv, Navi, Shanivar, Narayan, Somwar, Mangalwar, Budhwar, Rasta, Bhawani, Ghorpade, Guruwar, Ganj, Nana, and Ganesh Peth. The buildings have fallen into disrepair due to decades of neglect and poor maintenance.
This directive comes after a recent incident in Dhankawadi, where part of a compound wall collapsed due to heavy rainfall around 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Fortunately, three children narrowly escaped injury when the lower section of the wall gave way. The wall belonged to the Padmavati C Wing Society located in the nearby hilly region. At least 15 families of roadside vegetable vendors living in tin shelters adjacent to the wall are now at risk, as the structure had been previously declared unsafe.
A local resident living nearby said, “PMC officials from our ward and the building permissions department have inspected the area, and now we are waiting for their next steps. We had reported the poor condition of the wall earlier, but neither the PMC nor the society took adequate action.”
A senior official, who wished to remain anonymous, added, “Every year before the monsoon, we issue notices to prevent accidents. PMC will take necessary action against property owners if the unsafe wadas are not repaired or vacated by the residents.”
