In a tragic incident that send you shivers down your spine, a man, a woman, and children clinging to them for support were swept away by a raging waterfall in Lonavala near Mumbai. Only two managed to swim back to safety.
The family of seven was on a holiday in the hill station, just 80 km from Mumbai. So far, three bodies have been recovered, and the search and rescue operations will resume at daybreak tomorrow.
Like many tourists who visit this hill town during the monsoons, the family had gone picnicking at a waterfall near the Bhusi Dam backwaters. Heavy rainfall since early morning had caused the dam to overflow, intensifying the waterfall’s flow.
5 Members of Family Drown In Waterfall Near Bhusi Dam In #Lonavala,Maharashtra.
2 bodies have been recovered,search and rescue operations are going on.#Maharashtra #Mumbai pic.twitter.com/5KAdYPsuri
— Indrajeet chaubey (@indrajeet8080) June 30, 2024
Terrifying visuals captured the family’s final moments as they stood on a rock in the midst of the powerful falls, clinging to each other and trying to move towards safety. In less than a minute, the forceful water overpowered them, sweeping them downstream as they screamed for help.
Onlookers gathered on the banks and called for assistance, but the torrent made any rescue attempts impossible. The incident occurred around 1:30 pm. Locals and police quickly arrived, using ropes and trekking gear to search for survivors.
According to police reports, the tourists slipped into the waterfall and drowned in the downstream reservoir. Locals speculated they might have lost their footing on the slippery, moss-covered boulders, reported news agency IANS.
This accident has raised concerns about the safety measures at the waterfall and the Bhusi Dam. Another purported video from the same location showed hundreds of people sitting on the dam’s edge as water flowed by, with food stalls set up in the midst of the waterfall. Tourists appeared unfazed by the potential dangers, and there were no visible security arrangements to prevent access to the area. Media outlets could not independently verify the video’s authenticity.
