Pune: Tragic drownings at Pavana dam calls for enhanced safety measures

The surroundings of the Pavana Dam in Lonavala have been marred by a series of drownings prompting urgent calls for enhanced safety measures in the region reported PTIThe latest incidents reportedly involve the deaths of 20yearold Manish Shankar Sharma in January and 18yearold Adwait Verma in June both succumbing to the waters of the reservoirLocal authorities including the police and the irrigation department have reportedly expressed concerns over tourists ignoring warning signs and venturing into watersAs per the news agency report Senior Police Inspector Kishor Dhumal emphasised the importance of preventive measures such as increasing police presence installing metal fencing marking danger zones with visible signs and deploying more lifeguardsAnticipating the influx of tourists during the monsoon we convened meetings with police Patils from over 20 villages around the dam We instruct them to prevent tourists from entering the water bodies We also direct camping sites and resorts to restrain their guests from approaching the water Dhumal told PTIAccording to the PTI report PolicePatils are villagelevel personnel appointed by the concerned collector who assist the police in maintaining law and order in rural areasThe officer said drownings occur because victims fail to access the waters depth reported PTIThe responsibility for safety measures lies with the irrigation department We have suggested several measures including installing metal fencing around the waterfront deploying more lifeguards and providing a patrol boat equipped with rescue teams he saidReportedly he also emphasised the need to mark danger zones with floating red signs to deter tourists from venturing into hazardous areasThe irrigation department official highlighted the need for policy decisions to enhance safety reportedly suggesting measures like additional fencing and warning boards at strategic locationsGiven the expanse it is impractical to deploy personnel at every kilometre The only feasible solution is to install metal fencing along the waterfront This requires a policy decision from the state government the official who spoke on condition of anonymity statedAs per the PTI report the official also stated that they continuously instruct camping site operators to monitor their guests and prevent them from going near the water bodiesAn adequate number of warning boards have also been put at different places around the dam he saidAccording to the Lonavala Rural Police four people have drowned in the Pavana Dam since January 2024 The rescue organisation Vanyajeev Rakshak Maval VRM reported recovering 27 bodies from various water bodies in Maval tehsil between March and May this year reported PTIAs reported by the PTI Nilesh Garade the founder president of VRM said most of the drownings occur because victims fail to assess the depth of the waterSwimming in the dam is strictly prohibited and there are warning boards placed around the dams periphery Despite this many tourists ignore these warnings and enter the water Garade explainedGarade called for more safety measures reportedly including additional fencing at dangerous spots more lifegaurds and warning boardsHe reportedly urged tourists not to enter the water He further asked them to wear life jackets if they did reported PTI