Pune: Tourists Flout Ban at Bhushi Dam Despite Fatal Kundmala Tragedy and Official Warnings

Lonavala, 16th June 2025: It has come to attention that tourists visiting Pune’s tourism capital, Lonavala, are blatantly ignoring the directives issued by the Pune District Administration, even after four people were confirmed dead at Kundmala, not far from Lonavala, where a pedestrian iron bridge collapse left multiple people injured and several others swept away in the Indrayani River.

Today as well, like on any regular day, several potentially dangerous tourist spots, especially Bhushi Dam, continued to attract crowds, despite strict preventive orders in place. Earlier this month, on 8th June, two people were swept away at Bhushi Dam, and last year, an entire family of five from the Pune area drowned at the same location. According to a media report, from 2017 to 2022, 29 tourists have drowned at Bhushi Dam.

Following these recurring incidents, the Pune District Administration has imposed strict prohibitory orders at major tourist spots, including Bhushi Dam, in Lonavala and Maval taluka to ensure visitor safety during the monsoon. These orders, issued by District Collector Jitendra Dudi under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, will remain in effect until 31st August.

However, people appear to be openly ignoring these restrictions. A video that surfaced this morning shows tourists relaxing and enjoying themselves on the steps of Bhushi Dam, defying the prohibitory orders.

When contacted, Senior Police Inspector Rajesh Ramaghare of Lonavala City Police Station told Punekar News, “We have urged people not to visit any places that could be dangerous during the rainy season, including Bhushi Dam. Whenever the water level at Bhushi Dam reaches alarming levels, we deploy our forces there and ask people to evacuate. Forces have already been deployed, and we are taking necessary precautions to prevent public entry.”