Pune: In the wake of the tragic incident at Kundmala in Maval taluka, where four tourists lost their lives, Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi chaired a high-level review meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority to strengthen monsoon preparedness and prevent further mishaps. Stressing that public safety is the administration’s top priority, he called for synchronized efforts from all government departments.
One of the key directives issued was the urgent completion of structural audits across the district. All old and potentially hazardous bridges, causeways, roads, buildings, heritage structures, hoardings, and railway bridges are to be inspected within seven days. Reports must be submitted to the Disaster Management Cell, and unsafe structures are to be dismantled in a manner that minimizes inconvenience to the public.
Additional safety measures discussed included:
Mapping and Public Awareness: Identification of hazardous zones and increasing public awareness about them.
Barricading and Restrictions: Waterlogged roads to be barricaded during heavy rains, and tourist access to dangerous areas will be restricted.
Tourist Spot Safety: Installation of clear signboards and directional signage at popular tourist destinations with the support of local forest committees.
Resource Deployment: Extra personnel to be deployed at vulnerable spots, along with mock drills to enhance preparedness.
Control Rooms: Round-the-clock operation of taluka-level control rooms to ensure quick response.
Flood-Prone Area Measures: Surveys and precautionary steps to be taken in flood-prone villages and low-lying slum areas near rivers.
Disaster Volunteers: Training and recognition of “Aapda Mitras” (disaster volunteers) to strengthen community-level response.
Health Infrastructure Readiness: Hospitals to be equipped with adequate beds, ambulances, staff, medicines, and blood bank resources.
Rainfall Monitoring: Verification and maintenance of rain gauge stations in villages.
Crowd Management: Lifeguards and police personnel to be deployed at heavily visited locations.
Electrical Safety: The MSEDCL will inspect electric poles, transformers, and wiring to prevent electrocution risks.
The Collector also emphasized the need for early warnings in landslide-prone regions and clear, simple communication with residents. He urged authorities to analyze past disaster responses and integrate lessons learned into the current disaster management strategy.
With the upcoming Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar Palkhi Processions, Dudi directed that all unauthorized hoardings and unstable trees along the procession routes be removed. Roadside leveling and removal of traffic obstructions were also prioritized to ensure smooth passage.
CEO Gajanan Patil advocated for the creation of a dedicated panel to oversee structural audits, citing the large number of public structures in the district. He also emphasized the need for heightened safety measures along the Kalyan Highway and at popular tourist spots such as Naneghat, Jivdhan Fort, and Bhimashankar.
Pune Rural SP Sandeep Gill informed that police are actively inspecting hazardous areas and working closely with administrative departments. He proposed increasing the number of trained disaster volunteers and holding fortnightly coordination meetings with local residents.
The meeting saw the participation of officials from key departments including PWD, Irrigation, Agriculture, Health, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporations, Police, PMRDA, Forest Department, MSEDCL, RTO, IMD, and others involved in disaster preparedness and response.
