Tamhini Ghat Crash: Dense Forest Hid Fatal Crash for Three Days; Drone Helps Locate Thar in Gorge
Pune/Raigad, 21st November 2025: A leisure trip turned tragic for six friends from Pune after their Mahindra Thar crashed into a deep gorge in Tamhini Ghat, leaving all of them dead. The accident, hidden by dense forest cover, went unnoticed for nearly three days until police located the wreckage with the help of a drone on Thursday evening.
Group of Friends on a Konkan Trip
The victims—identified as Pratham Chavan (22), Punit Shetty (20), Sahil Bote (24), Mahadev Koli (18), Omkar Koli (18) and Shiva Mane (19)—were all residents of Kondhwa. They had left Pune for a short Konkan holiday, but reportedly lost control of their vehicle on a sharp bend in the ghat section.
Hotel Alert Sparks Search Operation
A critical clue emerged when the hotel where the group had booked rooms noticed they failed to arrive on Tuesday night. After repeated calls went unanswered on Wednesday, the hotel owner contacted one of their friends in Pune. This triggered immediate concern and laid the groundwork for the search.
Phones Switch Off; Missing Complaint Filed
By Wednesday evening, none of the youths could be reached. Pratham Chavan’s father approached Uttamnagar Police Station to file a missing persons complaint. Meanwhile, Managaon Police in Raigad began tracking their mobile locations. The last signal showed the group near Diva Andhar village in the Tamhini Ghat area.
Drone Search Helps Detect Wreckage
The search effort was complicated by the steep valley terrain and thick vegetation. Police teams roped in members of the Roha Rescue Team and the Shivdurga Rescue Force from Pune. Drone surveillance began on Wednesday afternoon and continued for several hours. At around 6:30 pm, the drone captured an image believed to be the overturned Thar’s roof deep inside the forest. The rough terrain and darkness, however, made it impossible to reach the spot immediately.
Car Located 300–400 Feet Below
Rescue teams descended into the gorge on Thursday morning and discovered the mangled vehicle roughly 300–400 feet below the road. All six bodies were found near the wreck, indicating that the occupants likely died instantly from the impact.
Families Overwhelmed by Shock
The delay in discovering the accident has added to the anguish of the families. A panchanama was carried out at the scene, and police have launched a detailed investigation into the cause of the crash.
Authorities acknowledged that the accident might have remained hidden for several more days if not for the hotel owner’s timely alert about the group’s failure to check in.
