Pune: Woman Swept Away in Overflowing Drain Near Navale Bridge Despite Rescue Attempt by Bystanders
Pune, 14th June 2025: A 64-year-old woman was swept away by gushing water in an overflowing stormwater drain near Navale Bridge in the Narhe area on Thursday night, despite desperate efforts by three bystanders to save her. The tragic incident occurred during a spell of intense rainfall that lashed the city.
The woman, identified as Shobha Mahimane, had come to Pune from Kolhapur after attending a family wedding. After a night-long search by emergency services, her body was recovered on Friday, nearly five kilometers from where she fell.
Pradip Khedekar from the Pune Municipal Corporation’s fire brigade, who was part of the search team, said, “Her body was found near the Warje crematorium, where the stormwater channel drains into the river. Earlier, we had located her footwear and clothing, which helped in narrowing the search area.”
According to police, Shobha was dropped off by relatives at Narhe with the intention of spending the night at another relative’s house in Katraj. She was attempting to cross the highway to reach the service road and hail an autorickshaw when she slipped and fell into the drain, swollen due to heavy rainfall.
Police Inspector (Crime) Rahul Khilare at Bharti Vidyapeeth Police Station, said, “The drain was overflowing, and in the darkness, she likely didn’t see the danger. Passersby tried to pull her out, but the current was too strong. One of them immediately informed the police.”
Police recovered her mobile phone near the drain. “From the contact list, we managed to reach her daughter and confirmed her identity,” Khilare added.
In the aftermath, local authorities have raised concerns about uncovered stormwater drains and lack of safety measures near highways. “We’ve written to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Pune Municipal Corporation to install safety signage and ensure these drains are properly covered,” said a senior police official. “The open channels, some 2-3 feet deep, pose a serious threat, especially during monsoon.”
