Off limits

With the death of three youngsters at the Pandavkada Waterfall in Kharghar, the area will see increased security over this long weekend

For those planning to visit the Pandavkada waterfall at Kharghar, Navi Mumbai this weekend, there is some bad news visitors will not be allowed at the waterfall spot.


Pandavkada, Kharghar

This comes after the death of three youngsters, identified as Sanjay Bagwe (23) Khar, Sushil Kumar Pradipkumar (21) from Colaba and Dheeraj Mhaske (17) from Koparkhaine, who had gone to the waterfall recently for a picnic.

Villagers from the area blame the forest department and the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd. (CIDCO) foru00a0 several deaths in the region.

Authorities, which are trying to promote tourism in the area, have completely ignored safety issues. Railings and warning boards are missing at the waterfall spot, thus making people more susceptible to accidents.

Villagers claim that they have rescued many tourists from drowning. Yet, it must be said that revellers need to use their common sense and heed verbal warnings to stay out of danger.


Oshane Koshane waterfall at Bhivpuri. PIC/Shrikant Khuperkar

The onus is not just on authorities but people need to take responsibility for their actions.

Safety
Despite numerous complaints requesting the authorities to enhance security and prohibit people from visiting the area, villagers are furious that CIDCO officials as well as the forest department have not taken any step to address safety issues. Dilip Sapkal who lives in Kem village near the waterfall said, "We have asked the CIDCO officials, the forest department and the Kharghar police to address these issues. Safety is a concern here and that is why people should not be allowed to visit the spot." People living around Mumbai visit the Pandavkada hills especially during the monsoon. But some youngsters do not take precautions while trekking and climbing the slippery hill, leading to accidents and sometimes fatalities.

Check
The police too find it difficult to keep a check on the crowd, especially during holidays. Kiran Patil, senior police inspector at the Kharghar police station said, "We have started rigorous patrolling in the area. Sometimes, people deceive us and take a different route to the waterfall. They don't pay attention to our warnings. It is practically impossible for us to deploy our personnel everywhere."

Responsibility
The CIDCO officials, however, passed the buck to the forest department. "We cannot control crowds at the waterfall or we cannot prevent tourists from coming here, as the region comes under the jurisdiction of the forest department," said a CIDCO official on condition of anonymity. Calls made by this reporter to the Range Forest Officer of Panvel region went unanswered.


Visitors at Bhagirath waterfall, Vangini. Pic/Shrikant Khuperkar

Effort
Villagers have now taken matters into their own hands. Salman Patel, from Ove village said, "We have decided that we will not allow tourists in the area. We are shooing them away. We do not want youngsters dying over here."u00a0

Kharghar police are planning to increase security in the region. "People will not be allowed to go near the
waterfall. We will deploy additional forces to prevent any accidents," added Patil.