22-Year-Old Tourist Found Dead After Falling Into Naneghat Gorge; Overnight Search Hampered by Fog and Rain

Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Junnar, 21th July 2026: A 22-year-old tourist who went missing after allegedly falling into a deep gorge at the popular hill destination of Naneghat in Junnar taluka of Pune district was found dead on Tuesday morning after an extensive search operation carried out by police, rescue teams, forest officials, and local volunteers.

The deceased has been identified as Datta Vinayak Londhe (22), a resident of Pargaon Shingve in Ambegaon taluka, Pune district. He had travelled to Naneghat with three friends to enjoy the monsoon season.

According to police, the four friends were visiting Naneghat when Datta Vinayak Londhe started feeling cold. He reportedly told his friends that he would go and walked away from the group. When he did not return, his friends searched the surrounding area but were unable to trace him. They immediately informed local residents and alerted the Junnar Police.

Soon after receiving the information, police personnel, rescue teams, forest officials, and local volunteers reached the spot and launched a search operation. The teams searched the deep gorge and surrounding valley where Datta was suspected to have fallen.

During the operation, police also attempted to trace Datta’s mobile phone. Preliminary information indicated that the phone was still ringing, and its location was believed to be on the lower side of Naneghat towards the rural areas of Thane district. Based on this input, authorities assessed the possibility of approaching the location from the Thane side, as it offered easier access than descending directly from the top of the gorge.

However, the rescue operation was severely affected by continuous rainfall, dense fog, poor visibility, slippery rocks, and the steep terrain of the valley. As darkness set in and weather conditions worsened, it became unsafe for rescue personnel to continue the search. The operation was therefore suspended for the night.

With daylight and improved visibility on Tuesday morning, the search resumed. After several hours of combing the gorge, rescue teams recovered the body of Datta Vinayak Londhe from the valley.

Confirming the development, Dattatray Gund, Police Inspector, Junnar Police Station, said, “Four friends had come to Naneghat as tourists. Datta Vinayak Londhe was feeling cold and told his friends that he would go. After that, he went missing. Police, the rescue team, forest officials, and local volunteers immediately launched a search operation. However, due to dense fog and adverse weather conditions, we had to stop the operation during the night. We resumed the search this morning and recovered his body.”

Following the recovery, police completed the panchnama and sent the body for post-mortem examination. Further legal formalities are underway, and the exact circumstances that led to the incident are being investigated.

Naneghat is one of Maharashtra’s most visited monsoon destinations, attracting thousands of tourists every year. However, heavy rainfall, dense fog, slippery pathways, and deep gorges make the area particularly hazardous during the rainy season. Authorities have repeatedly appealed to visitors to avoid venturing close to cliff edges, refrain from risky behaviour, and follow all safety advisories while visiting the region.