By Tejas

Pune, August 5, 2024: 10 years have passed since Maharashtra witnessed a catastrophic landslide in Malin village in Pune, where almost the entire village was wiped out in the landslide incident. The reason for recalling that incident after 10 years is that the village situated near Malin village is now facing a similar problem.

As per the information, in the village of Panchale Khurd—the village situated near the Malin village in Ambegaon Taluka—seven to eight feet of land have been sunk. This has raised the possibility of landslide incidents in the area. Therefore, the local residents of the area are demanding immediate government intervention and rehabilitation.

Panchale Khurd village is situated in the Ambegaon Taluka of Pune. Situated in the backwaters of Dimbhe Dam, this village is just 2.8 km from Malin village. Two days ago, the land of this village sank to knee level, creating panic among the 45 families residing there.

Additionally, the continuous rainfall in the area has also raised the fear of a Malin-like tragedy amongst the villagers. In this regard, villagers accused the government of not being serious about their situation and said that the government is not listening to their plight.

"If the Malin-like landslide incident took place in our village, and if our entire village was buried, then who will be responsible for it?" questioned one of the villagers. As the people are living under constant fear, they are demanding their rehabilitation at the earliest. "We are terrified. The land beneath our feet is unstable, and the rain is relentless. We need the government to act now before it’s too late," said another villager.

In response to the growing concerns, Maharashtra's Co-operation Minister, Dilip Walse Patil, has taken note of the situation. He has instructed officials to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and address the villagers' concerns promptly.