Landslide cleared at Katraj tunnel, Mumbai-Pune-Bangalore Highway (Katraj-Dehuroad bypass) opened for traffic
Sumit Singh
Pune, September 26, 2019 : The Katraj tunnel on the Mumbai-Pune-Bangalore Highway (Katraj-Dehuroad bypass) which was closed for traffic due to landslide on Wednesday midnight, was opened for traffic movement around 4 am on Thursday.
Due to heavy rains on Wednesday-Thursday night, there is a flood like situation in several parts of Pune. The NDRF and Fire Brigade have brought out five bodies in Araneshwar near Sahakarnagar. A total of seven dead bodies have been recovered in different parts of the Pune city, while many vehicles have been washed away.
In the wake of the worsening emergency like situation, Pune District Collector Naval Kishore Ram today declared holiday for all schools, colleges located in Pune city, Haveli, Purandar, Bhor and Baramati talukas.
According to National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), three teams are deployed from 5 NDRF Puke for search and rescue operation. The teams deployed are at Katraj where wall is collapsed. On team moved from hq at 0050 hrs under supervision of Mahesh Nalwade (DC). Another team is deployed under supervision of Alok Kumar, DC deployed near PMC office. Third team is prepositioned at Baramati for flood rescue operation under command of Inspector Rajendra Patil.
One dead body was recovered from vehicle no-MH12PH 0410 in Prajya city canal area on Sinhgarh road. The deceased has been identified as Dattatray Gimre (52).
Pune Fire Brigade officials said five bodies have been recovered in Sahakarnagar area and the number of casualties is expected to go up.
Pune traffic police have appealed people to be careful while driving. “There’s lot of mud on several stretches of Sinhgad road especially between Hingne and Santosh Hall. There are other roads in the city as well which have become risky due to mud. Two wheeler riders to be careful while driving”, DCP (traffic) Pankaj Deshmukh said.
