NAVI MUMBAI: At least eight men from Satara district lost their lives after the SUV they were traveling in plunged nearly 700 feet into a gorge along the Ambenali Ghat on the Poladpur-Mahabaleshwar road in Raigad district. The incident occurred shortly after midnight on Monday, according to police officials.
Details of the Accident
The victims were returning from a weekend picnic at Harnai beach in Ratnagiri district when the tragic accident took place. Rescue operations are currently underway, with teams from Poladpur police, local villagers, trekkers from Mahabaleshwar and Mahad, and other rescue personnel working tirelessly to retrieve the bodies from the deep gorge.
Identification of the Deceased
The deceased have been identified as Mahesh Anil Pawar (25), Aditya Ashok Salunkhe (21), Ritesh Rajendra Lokhande (25), Suhas Jitendra Lokhande (20), and Ansh Sameer Chavan (18), all residents of Asgaon, Satara district. Additionally, Utkarsh Ananda Shingte (21) and Nikhil Abhimanyu Shingte (25), both from Marde, Satara, and Sandeep Katkar (35), the driver of the SUV, a resident of Azadpur, Koregaon Taluka, Satara, also lost their lives.
The cause of the accident is under investigation, and authorities are working to ensure that all necessary assistance is provided to the bereaved families.
