Over 150 old wadas (traditional houses) in central Pune have been declared dangerous, but residents continue to live in them despite repeated notices.
On Wednesday, part of a dilapidated wada in Ganesh Peth collapsed, trapping 15 people who were later rescued by the fire brigade.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) says residents and owners ignore notices, and police support in enforcement remains limited.
Pune, 5th September 2025: Many families in the city’s central areas continue to live in dangerously dilapidated wadas despite repeated notices from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). Some of these houses are more than a hundred years old, with crumbling wooden staircases, collapsing roofs, and weak stone-and-mud walls.
On Wednesday afternoon, a portion of an old wada in Ganesh Peth collapsed. Fifteen residents trapped inside were rescued by the fire brigade. The building had already been served two warnings by PMC declaring it unsafe for habitation.
According to the civic body, there are currently 159 wadas in Pune classified as dangerous. Warning boards have been placed outside these properties. Out of these, 99 have had their most risky sections removed, while residents of the remaining 60 continue to resist eviction or demolition work.
PMC officials say that even after police were informed, little cooperation has been received to ensure that residents vacate. Notices continue to be ignored, leaving families to risk their lives by staying in unsafe buildings.
Speaking on the issue, a civic engineer said the situation is worrying as “residents are knowingly putting themselves and their families in danger by refusing to move out.”
