Eight Killed After SUV Plunges into 500-Foot Gorge in Maharashtra's Ambenali Ghat
Eight people were killed after an SUV fell into a gorge in Maharashtra's Raigad district early Monday morning.
Eight people were killed after a sports utility vehicle plunged into a deep gorge in the Ambenali Ghat section on the Poladpur-Mahabaleshwar road early Monday morning, according to police and rescue officials. The accident occurred around 2.45 am near the Raigad-Satara district border when the vehicle reportedly lost control while navigating a sharp bend along the mountainous route. Authorities said the SUV fell nearly 500 to 700 feet into the valley below, triggering a large-scale rescue and recovery operation in the difficult terrain.
Preliminary investigations suggest the victims were traveling from Dapoli to Satara when the accident took place. Police officials said the driver is believed to have lost control of the vehicle while passing through the steep and winding Ambenali Ghat stretch, which is known for its dangerous curves and challenging driving conditions. All eight occupants of the vehicle are feared to have died on the spot due to the severity of the fall and the impact of the crash.
The deceased have been identified as Mahesh Anil Pawar, Aditya Ashok Salunkhe, Ritesh Rajendra Lokhande, Suhas Jitendra Lokhande, Ansh Sameer Chavan, Utkarsh Anand Shingte, Anil Abhimanyu Shingte, and Nitin Kisan Naikonde. Most of the victims were reportedly residents of the Satara district. Officials said family members of the deceased have been informed, while police have begun completing legal formalities related to the identification and post-mortem procedures.
Soon after receiving information about the incident, teams from the Poladpur police station and multiple rescue agencies rushed to the accident site. However, rescue efforts were severely hampered by the depth of the gorge, dense vegetation, and rough terrain surrounding the crash location. Officials confirmed that two bodies had initially been recovered from the valley, while teams continued searching for the remaining victims and the wreckage of the vehicle.
Several specialized rescue groups, including the Mahabaleshwar Rescue Team, Pratapgad Rescue Team, Seascape Mahad-Poladpur unit, Aapda Mitra volunteers, and local emergency responders, were deployed for the operation. Authorities used ropes and climbing equipment to access the gorge as daylight improved visibility in the mountainous region. Police said efforts were continuing to safely retrieve all victims and gather further evidence regarding the cause of the crash.
The accident has once again highlighted safety concerns surrounding the Ambenali Ghat route, which has witnessed multiple fatal accidents over the years due to its steep descents and sharp turns. The same stretch had earlier seen a major bus accident involving students from Konkan Agricultural University in 2018. Officials are expected to review road safety conditions in the area as investigations continue into Monday’s tragic incident.
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