Landslide at Khandala Hill Station: Security Guard Killed, Another Missing
A 40-year-old security guard was killed and another person is missing after a landslide struck a residential society in Khandala, a hill station in Pune district, late Monday night. The incident occurred at Rustic Highland Society on Old Khandala Road, where heavy rains triggered the landslide, burying a security cabin under rocks and soil.
The deceased has been identified as Gangaram Puttepu, 40, while Pramod Shantaram Prajapati remains feared trapped. Rescue operations by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are underway, with teams searching for the missing person since Tuesday. The body of one person was recovered on Tuesday, and search efforts continued on Wednesday.
Following the landslide, 14 people were safely evacuated from the area. An officer from Pune Rural police stated, 'Amidst very heavy rains in Lonavala and Khandala, a landslide was reported near Rustic Highland Society. Immediately after, 14 people were moved to safety. It soon became clear that the security cabin was covered by rocks and soil, and the two were crushed underneath.'
In response to the ongoing heavy rains, the NDRF has relocated over two dozen villages to safer locations to prevent further casualties. The region has been experiencing continuous downpour, raising concerns about additional landslides and flooding.
