Tourist Falls Into Kalu Waterfall Gorge Near Pune; Locals Stage Dramatic Rescue With Dupatta Rope
Pune: A tourist visiting the Kalu waterfall in the Khireshwar area of Junnar narrowly escaped tragedy on Friday afternoon after slipping and falling into the gorge. The incident occurred around 3 PM at the first tier of the five-stage waterfall, where water plunges into a deep valley.
According to witnesses, the tourist—who had traveled from Pune with a group from Hyderabad—lost his balance while crossing the Kalu river and was swept away by the strong current. He became stranded on a narrow ledge, hundreds of feet below, with water rushing dangerously close.
With no professional rescue equipment at hand, a group of local residents quickly sprang into action. They tied together scarves and dupattas to create a makeshift rope, using it to pull the tourist to safety just in time. A video of the dramatic rescue has since gone viral on social media.
Locals voiced concern about the rising number of accidents at the popular monsoon destination, where visitors often venture too close to the edge to click photos or videos. Residents are now calling on the authorities to install protective railings and deploy safety staff during weekends and holidays when footfall peaks. They also urged tourists to act responsibly and stay away from dangerous spots near waterfalls and fast-flowing streams.
