Pune: Landslide Near New Katraj Tunnel Disrupts Traffic Amid Heavy Rains
A landslide near the New Katraj Tunnel on the Pune-Khed Shivapur highway disrupted traffic early Thursday morning following intense rainfall. The debris partially blocked the highway, covering nearly half of the road.
According to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) workers, the landslide occurred around midnight due to heavy rains. Cleanup operations began early, with teams working to restore normal traffic flow.
The incident follows two consecutive days of relentless rain in western Maharashtra, with Pimpri-Chinchwad recording 101 mm of rainfall. Heavy downpours continued in rural Pune, raising concerns about further landslides.
An NHAI official (anonymous) stated, “Water saturation in the soil triggered the landslide. We used heavy machinery and cleared debris by late evening. Slope stability is being assessed to prevent future incidents.”
Local commuters expressed frustration, saying, “I was stuck for over an hour. This route is vital—authorities must take preventive steps during monsoons.”
