Six Youths from Pune Feared Dead as Thar Falls into 500-Foot Gorge in Tamhini Ghat
Raigad/Pune, 20th November 2025: A Thar SUV traveling from Pune to Konkan met with a tragic accident in the Tamhini Ghat area of Raigad district, plunging into a 500-foot deep gorge. It is feared that six youths traveling in the vehicle lost their lives.
According to Uttamnagar police, the accident likely occurred around midnight on Monday, 17 November, but went unnoticed until a missing complaint was filed by the parents of the youths. The victims are believed to be Shahaji Chavan (22, Kondhave Dhawade, Pune), Punit Sudharak Shetty (20, Kopre village, Uttamnagar, Pune), Sahil Sadhu Bote (24, Kopre village, Uttamnagar, Pune), Shri Mahadev Koli (18, Kopre village, Bhairavnath Nagar, Pune), Omkar Sunil Koli (18, Kopre village, Bhairavnath Nagar, Pune), and Shiva Arun Mane (19, Kopre village, Bhairavnath Nagar, Pune).
The Thar (MH12 YN 8004) had gone for a ride in the Konkan region, but the group lost contact with their families afterward. Police launched a search based on CCTV footage and mobile location tracking. On Thursday, 20 November, drones deployed over a sharp bend in the accident-prone ghat revealed the vehicle and four bodies in the valley.
Rescue operations are ongoing to retrieve the remaining bodies.
The rescue operation, involving Mangaon Police, Raigad Disaster Management, Mulshi Taluka Disaster Management Committee, and local villagers, has been extremely challenging due to the steep terrain, dense forest, and depth of the gorge.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the driver lost control of the vehicle while navigating a sharp turn just past Kondethar village, on the descent from Pune to Konkan. The ghat is known for its steep curves and accident-prone terrain, with existing iron railings offering limited safety.
Local social activists, including Pramod Balkavade, Shelar Mama, and Ankush Dhamale, have urged authorities to install reinforced barriers and speed controllers to prevent future tragedies in the ghat.
The names of the recovered deceased are yet to be officially confirmed, and the search continues for the remaining victims.
