Pune: Tourist Drownings in Maval Taluka Rise, Police and Rescue Teams Urge Caution at Popular Water Spots
Maval, 9th June 2025: Maval taluka, a favorite destination for tourists in Pune district, has witnessed a worrying increase in drowning incidents. Over the past year, 22 people have lost their lives to drowning in various locations across the region. Alarmingly, five of these fatalities have occurred in just the first eight days of June, including a recent tragedy at Lonavala’s Bhushi Dam.
Other recent drowning sites include Walwan Dam, Pavana Dam and Kasarsai Dam, each claiming one life. Maval’s scenic spots such as Nane Maval, Malawali Pawan Maval and Kambare Andar Maval attract visitors year-round, especially during the summer and monsoon seasons. Popular locations like Pavana Dam, Andra Valley Dam, Vadiwale Dam, Kasarsai Dam, and Kundmala see crowds of tourists eager to swim and enjoy the water. However, many visitors are not proficient swimmers, underestimate water depth, or engage in risky behavior, leading to fatal accidents.
Danger zones include Kundmala, Pavana Dam, Kasarsai, Vadiwale Dam, Andra Valley Dam, Bhushi and Walwan Tungarli in Lonavala, and several areas along the Indrayani river such as Ambi, Varale, Sangavade, and Salumbre. While local residents often come to the rescue, they warn that entering unfamiliar waters can be life-threatening.
Sunil Gaikwad of Shivdurg Mitra Rescue Team, emphasized that warning signs are posted at dangerous spots in Lonavala, but some tourists still enter the water from restricted areas behind Bhushi Dam. Authorities and rescue teams have appealed to tourists not to risk their lives for recreation and to exercise extreme caution at all water bodies in Maval taluka.
