Maha: Landslide occurs in 'ghat' connecting Raigad to Satara district, traffic hit; route cleared after 10 hours

A landslide occurred in a ghat or mountain pass route connecting Raigad and Satara districts of Maharashtra, which affected the movement of traffic for more than 10 hours, but nobody was injured in the incident, officials said on Wednesday.

A landslide occurred in a 'ghat' or mountain pass route connecting Raigad and Satara districts of Maharashtra, which affected the movement of traffic for more than 10 hours, but nobody was injured in the incident, officials said on Wednesday. The landslide took place around 11.30 pm on Tuesday near Kalika Mata temple in Ambenali Ghat connecting Poladpur in Raigad to Mahabaleshwar in Satara, they said.

As it was not possible to clear the debris during the night hours, the authorities shut the road for traffic on both sides. Early Wednesday morning, the Public Works Department (PWD) deployed a JCB machine, which removed the fallen rocks and soil from the route. The traffic was restored by around 10 am, the Raigad collectorate said.

Another incident of landslide occurred at Lakhpale village in Mangaon taluka of Raigad. Although nobody was injured in the incident as it took place away from the settlement area, the Revenue Department shifted 20 persons from four families to a safer location, the collectorate said. Raigad district recorded average 51 mm rainfall in 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Wednesday. At 120 mm, Pen and Matheran recorded the highest rainfall. An orange alert has been issued in the district. Villages situated on river banks and at the base of hills or mountains have been asked to remain alert in view of the situation, it said. Automatic weather stations have been set up at 82 places across Raigad district and instruments costing Rs 13 lakh have also been put in place at 26 places along the Savitri river near Mahad to check the water level to give flood warning, the authorities said.