Rajgad Fort Death: Basic Facilities Missing

A recent tourist death at Rajgad Fort has exposed critical deficiencies in safety and emergency response systems. Sandeep Balkrishna Pawar, 52, collapsed and died on Saturday due to a suspected heart attack while descending the fort. His death, attributed to cardiac arrest, occurred despite immediate assistance from fellow trekkers.

Eyewitnesses reported that precious time was lost due to the absence of any medical help or equipment on the fort itself. The nearest medical facilities required significant travel time, exacerbating the situation. This incident underscores a long-ignored problem at one of Maharashtra's most frequented heritage sites.

Rajgad Fort attracts hundreds of visitors weekly, yet it lacks a permanent medical post, an emergency response team, or a stationed ambulance. Conservationists and locals have repeatedly voiced concerns about overcrowding, slippery paths, poor signage, and inadequate mobile connectivity, all contributing to high-risk conditions.

Following this tragedy, there are growing demands for the state government to establish essential safety infrastructure. These include deploying medical teams, emergency vehicles, and trained rescue personnel, especially during peak visiting hours. Heritage and trekking groups also urge authorities to regulate crowd numbers and install warning signage.