Tamhini Ghat Route Closed; All Connections Between Pune and Mumbai Severed
Tamhini Ghat road connecting Pune to Mangaon and further to Mumbai-Goa Highway and eventually to Mumbai has been closed. With this closure, all connections between Pune and Mumbai by rail or road have been severed.
According to senior ground officials, intense rainfall has caused flash water accumulation across the Mulshi and Maval sub-divisions. Water streams are overflowing onto key sections of the Pune-Mangaon highway traffic network, significantly reducing visibility and rendering mountain curves highly unstable. Reports indicate that portions of the ghat road have suffered erosion, raising immediate concerns over structural integrity.
Active Landslide Threat Along the Sahyadris
With the hill slopes fully saturated, multiple minor boulder drops have already been reported along the pass. The local administration issued the blanket ban to prevent any catastrophic accidents, deploying police checkpoints at entry points to turn back oncoming vehicles.
Regional Network Collapses: Mumbai-Pune Expressway and Highway Shut
The shutdown of the Tamhini Ghat route has compounded regional transit issues. The entire interstate commuting network has ground to a virtual halt due to simultaneous rain-induced disasters.
- Mumbai-Pune Expressway Status: Traffic was halted on both corridors early Monday morning after a heavy concrete pillar collapsed onto the main carriageway. Concurrently, a major landslide struck near the exit of Tunnel 2 along the newly inaugurated Khopoli-Kusgaon ‘Missing Link’ bypass alignment, forcing emergency diversions.
- Old Mumbai-Pune Highway: Closed to traffic due to severe, multi-location waterlogging and overflowing regional streams.
- Rail Transport Hit: Train services navigating the Karjat-Lonavala Bhor Ghat section have been suspended following debris and rockfalls on the tracks.
Strict Tourist Bans Enforced Till September 30
The Pune Forest Department and Raigad District authorities have reiterated that all scenic routes, trekking zones, and waterfalls inside the Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary remain completely out of bounds for the public.
Popular tourist spots, including the Devkund Waterfall, Secret Point, Kondhwal, and Andharban trails, are under an absolute seasonal ban running through September 30, 2026. The administration warned that anyone caught violating the orders, indulging in risky photography near cliff edges, or entering restricted water bodies will face immediate legal prosecution under the Disaster Management Act.
Official Travel Advisory: Is Tamhini Ghat Open Today?
“We are urging citizens to cancel all non-emergency travel plans involving the ghat sections,” a senior traffic official stated. “The road will remain closed to all types of private and commercial vehicles until a thorough structural assessment can be safely executed after the rain recedes.”
For those asking if the route is open today, the answer is a definitive no. Commuters are strictly advised to stay indoors, monitor official government traffic updates, and avoid taking alternate rural bypasses, which are equally prone to flash flooding.
