Pune Rains: Section 144 Imposed In Tourist Spots, Private Offices Asked to Work From Home

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) appealed to all the private firms, including the IT companies in and around the city, to encourage their employees to work from home in view of the heavy rainfall warning.

Pune Rains: In the wake of incessant rainfall, a red alert has been issued in Pune for the next two days. Besides, authorities have also imposed section 144 (which prohibits the gathering of four or more people in the concerned area) in tourist spots of the district. Pune city and the district have been witnessing heavy downpour for the last few days.

District Collector Rajesh Deshmukh issued an order under section 144 of the CrPc prohibiting the assembly of five or more persons at tourist and trekking spots for the next four days.

Forts, historical places, waterfalls and other tourist places where section 144 has been invoked include forts of Sinhagad, Lohgad, Rajgad, and Visapur, along with Andarban trek, Rajmachi trek and other famous spots that are frequented by tourists and trekkers.

Meanwhile, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) appealed to all the private firms, including the IT companies in and around the city, to encourage their employees to work from home in view of the heavy rainfall warning.

Morover, the weather department has also advised people not to venture into ghat areas for the next two days. “The prohibitory orders have been issued at these tourist places to avoid any accidents as the IMD has issued red, orange and yellow alerts in the Pune district,” an official release said.

The violators will be prosecuted under relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and section 188 (Disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code.

Earlier, the administration had issued orders stating that all schools in the Pune district (barring schools in Indapur, Baramati, Daund, Shirur and Purandar tehsils) will remain closed from July 14 to July 16 considering the Met department’s warning.

(With PTI Inputs)