A tragic incident occurred on Sunday afternoon near Bhushi Dam in Lonavla, where five people, including four children and a woman, drowned. The local police confirmed the unfortunate event.
Although the authorities managed to recover the bodies of three individuals, heavy rain and limited light forced them to halt the search operations. The search for the remaining two victims will resume on Monday morning.
The deceased were identified as Sahista Liyaqat Ansari, 36, Amima Adil Ansari, 13, and Umera alias Salman Adil Ansari, 8. The search is still ongoing for Adnan Shabat Ansari, 4, and Mariya Ansari, 9. The family, residents of Hadapsar, Pune, had planned a visit to Bhushi Dam for a day out.
Around 3 pm, 17-18 family members of Liyaqat Ansari and Yunus Khan arrived at the waterfall behind Bhushi Dam. Unfortunately, the water levels suddenly rose due to continuous rain, trapping ten family members in the water streams. While five managed to escape, the remaining five went missing in the turbulent waters.
Recognizing the severity of the situation, local police, fire brigade services, Shivdurg Mitra Mandal, Apada Mitra Maval, and Vanya Jiv Rakshan Santha promptly initiated a search operation. By the end of the day, three bodies were recovered and sent for post-mortem.
With the onset of the monsoon season, the police have issued warnings to tourists visiting Bhushi Dam and other nearby locations like Ghubad Talab, Tata Dam, Tungarli Dam, Rajmachi Point, Kunegaon, and Kurvande points. These areas are prone to heavy and extreme rainfall, making them dangerous.
Suhas Jagtap, the police inspector at Lonavla city police station, confirmed the recovery of three bodies and stated that the search for the remaining two would continue on Monday morning. Pune Rural Superintendent of Police (Rural SP) Pankaj Deshmukh added that the bodies of a 40-year-old woman and two girls had been found.
The missing 9-year-old girl and 4-year-old boy are believed to have slipped into a waterfall two kilometers away from Bhushi Dam and drowned in the reservoir downstream.
According to updates from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the rainfall activity in the ghat areas of the Pune district has significantly increased. Lonavala experienced the highest rainfall on Sunday, June 30, with a recorded 163 mm of rain.
The drowning incident at Bhushi Dam is a sobering reminder of the dangers posed by sudden changes in weather, especially during the monsoon season. The ongoing search efforts and warnings to tourists highlight the importance of caution and preparedness when visiting such areas.
Comments