Heavy rain spells damage many forts in Maharashtra: Archaeological Survey of India

PUNE: The heavy rain spells this season have caused significant damage to several monuments in Maharashtra - with portions of their fortification walls collapsing in some locations, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials stated on Friday.
At least four forts - Jaigad and Janjira in Ratnagiri district, Vijaydurg in Sindhudurg district and Panhala in Kolhapur district - under ASI have suffered damage in the ongoing monsoon.
A senior ASI official on Friday said the foundation of a part of the fortification wall of Vijaydurg fort recently sank under the seawater after being lashed by intense ocean waves for days. "There has been significant damage to Panhala and Vijaydurg forts. At least a metre of a fortification wall at Vijaydurg has sunk. At Panhala fort, a wall portion near the Char Darwaza has given in due to the intense rainfall. Our first priority is to renovate such structures," the official said.
Another ASI official said parts of the fortification walls have collapsed near the Char Darwaza and Rajdindi marg in Panhala fort as well. "The incidence of heavy rain in parts of Maharashtra has gone up in the past two to three years. The base of the Panhala fort, which is close to 1,100-year-old, is made of soil stone at many places. Part of a fortification wall gave in when the rush of rainwaters was intense."
The number of houses in the upper reaches of the fort had rapidly increased with significant population pressure over the land resources in the area. "Over 3,000 people stay in the upper reaches of the fort area. The population pressure has thus been increasing beyond the carrying capacity. The increasing constructions have also blocked the natural water outsources in many places. The water from the heavy rain will find its way out in any case, carving through the fort base over the years and thus weakening it," an ASI official said.
The authorities had recently stopped the entry of visitors to the affected portion of Panhala fort. "Panhala fort was built by the Shilahara dynasty in the 12th century and has undergone extensive changes since, including during British time. Such recurrent changes tend to further weaken a structure," the official said.
The rainfall average in Kolhapur has been increasing in recent years, more so in the past two to three years. A study published by the India Meteorological Department in 2020 had observed a significant increase in the heavy rainfall days in Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Raigad, Kolhapur and Bhandara districts during the June-September period.
The study had noted that during the entire year, there was a significant increase in the heavy rainfall days in Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Raigarh, Kolhapur and Bhandara districts. While the study stated that no significant increasing or decreasing trends in June, July, August, September monthly rainfall in Maharashtra were seen, the number of heavy rainfall days in some districts had gone up. This meant that the damage to the old structures in some districts was mainly because of the increase in the heavy rainfall days, the official said.
Another ASI official said, "A fortification wall at Rajwada at the Janjira fort has collapsed. The monument is currently closed for the tourists as the rainy season is still on."