Navi Mumbai, Aug. 11 -- The Poladpur-Mahabaleshwar route through Ambenali Ghat has been closed to all vehicular traffic until August 16 as a precautionary measure amid the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) warning of heavy rainfall over the next few days.

Raigad district magistrate Kishan Jadhav issued the order on Tuesday, citing the ghat's vulnerable terrain and the heightened risk of landslides and other rain-related incidents.

The closure applies to State Highway 139, which connects Poladpur, Ambenali Ghat and Mahabaleshwar. The district administration appealed to motorists and citizens to strictly follow the closure order and avoid travelling through the Ambenali Ghat route until it reopens.

The decision aimed to prevent pos...