Six Pune Friends Dead as Thar Crashes Into 500-Foot Gorge in Tamhini Ghat
Six Pune Friends Dead as Thar Crashes Into 500-Foot Gorge in Tamhini Ghat
A late-night drive from Pune to Konkan turned fatal when a Thar SUV plunged nearly 500 feet into a gorge along the Tamhini Ghat stretch in Raigad district. Police believe all six youths travelling in the vehicle have died.
According to Uttamnagar Police, the accident is suspected to have occurred around midnight on Monday, 17 November, but went unnoticed until the families filed missing complaints. The youths have been identified as Shahaji Chavan (22, Kondhave Dhawade), Punit Sudharak Shetty (20, Kopre village), Sahil Sadhu Bote (24, Kopre village), Shri Mahadev Koli (18, Bhairavnath Nagar), Omkar Sunil Koli (18, Bhairavnath Nagar) and Shiva Arun Mane (19, Bhairavnath Nagar).
The group had set out in a Thar SUV (MH12 YN 8004) for a drive toward Konkan but stopped responding to calls soon after. Based on their last known location traced through mobile data and CCTV footage, police launched a search operation. On Thursday, 20 November, drone teams located the SUV and the bodies of four youths deep inside the valley near a sharp, accident-prone curve.
A large-scale rescue operation is currently underway, involving Mangaon Police, Raigad District Disaster Management teams, the Mulshi Taluka Disaster Management Committee and local villagers. Steep slopes, thick vegetation and the depth of the valley have made the recovery process extremely challenging. Efforts are ongoing to trace the remaining two victims.
Preliminary observations suggest the driver may have lost control at a tight bend near Kondethar village while descending the ghat. Though metal safety railings exist along parts of the stretch, they offer limited protection at sharper curves. The area is known for dangerous turns and poor visibility during night travel.
Local activists, including Pramod Balkavade, Shelar Mama and Ankush Dhamale, have reiterated demands for stronger crash barriers, improved speed-control measures and stricter enforcement to prevent similar tragedies.
Officials are yet to officially confirm the identities of the recovered bodies, and search operations continue.
