CCTV footage, tower data help cops track group’s last route before SUV was found in Tamhini ghat; the crash went unnoticed for four days until parents filed missing-person complaints when the group’s phones stayed unreachable
Steep slopes, dense forest and loose rocks have made the rescue operation difficult. Pic/By Special Arrangement
A Konkan trip turned tragic after a Thar SUV carrying six Pune youth plunged nearly 500 ft into a gorge on the Tamhini Ghat in Raigad, killing four. The crash went unnoticed for four days until parents filed missing-person complaints when the group’s phones stayed unreachable. Uttamnagar police believe the accident occurred around midnight on November 17, but remained undetected due to the isolated location of the spot and the lack of traffic at that hour.
The youth have been identified as Shahaji Chavan, 22; Punit Sudharak Shetty, 20; Sahil Sadhu Bote, 24; Shri Mahadev Koli, 18; Omkar Sunil Koli, 18; and Shiva Arun Mane, 19. Police used mobile tower data and CCTV footage to trace their route. On Thursday, a drone team spotted the SUV and the bodies of four occupants deep inside the valley near a dangerous curve on the ghat.
The police are yet to identify them. The search for the remaining two is on. The rescue and recovery effort involves Mangaon police, Raigad district disaster management, the Mulshi Taluka Disaster Management Committee and local villagers. Steep slopes, dense forest and loose rocks have made the operation difficult.
Preliminary inquiry suggests the driver may have lost control at a sharp bend near Kondethar village while descending. Though metal railings are installed at several points, they offer limited protection on sharper curves. The stretch is known for its blind turns, narrow roads, and poor nighttime visibility. Local activists have renewed demands for stronger barriers, better speed-control measures, and stricter enforcement to prevent further tragedies.
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