Pune Teen, Cricketer Viraj Phad, Dies After Falling into Tamhini Ghat Gorge: Police

Kothrud, 3rd December 2024: An 18-year-old student, Viraj Phad, who had been missing for five days, was tragically found dead in an 800-foot-deep valley near Tamhini Ghat. His body was recovered late Thursday following an intensive search operation involving drones and rescue teams.

Viraj, the youngest of three brothers, had left his home in Kothrud on November 23 for a solo bike ride. His family had reported him missing on November 26 after he failed to return. “He told his parents he was going to cricket class, but investigations revealed he rode his bike to the Tamhini Ghat area instead,” said Senior Inspector Sandeep Deshmane of Kothrud police.

Relatives, along with trekkers, began a search near the Devkund waterfall in Tamhini Ghat, where they discovered clues that led to his location. “We found his shoes and a bag abandoned in the valley. His bike was also spotted near the edge, raising fears he had slipped into the gorge,” said Prakash Shelar, one of the rescuers involved.

The search intensified after drone footage captured the image of a green windcheater in the valley. Using rappelling equipment, a team of 20 rescuers descended into the gorge and located Viraj’s body, which had decomposed due to the passage of time. The body was found under a tree, and the operation to retrieve it took nearly six hours. “We managed to bring the body out of the valley using a stretcher around 9 p.m.,” Shelar added.

Police confirmed that Viraj, a promising cricket player, had recently informed his parents about being selected for a major cricket league. “He was from a middle-class family, and his father works with a private company. The circumstances of how he ended up at Tamhini Ghat are still unclear,” Inspector Deshmane stated.