Rescue Operations Underway After Eight Die In Raigad Gorge Accident
Tourist vehicle falls into gorge in Raigad, killing eight people.
At least eight tourists were killed after their vehicle plunged into a deep gorge in Maharashtra’s Raigad district on Sunday night, triggering an extensive rescue operation in the difficult hilly terrain of the region. Officials said the accident occurred when the vehicle, travelling from the Konkan region towards Satara, reportedly lost control and fell into a valley estimated to be nearly 1,000 to 1,500 feet deep.
Rescue teams from the police, local administration, and disaster response units were immediately deployed to the Ambenali Ghat area where the incident took place. Authorities said the steep slopes and rugged landscape have made recovery efforts extremely challenging, with personnel using ropes and specialised equipment to access the crash site and retrieve bodies from scattered locations within the gorge.
So far, officials have confirmed the recovery of several bodies, while operations continue to locate the remaining victims. The identities of those killed are yet to be officially verified. Disaster response teams, including personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), have also been called in to assist with the ongoing rescue mission.
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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief over the tragedy, calling it “extremely heartbreaking” and extending condolences to the families of the victims. He said that coordinated rescue efforts involving multiple agencies had been launched on a “war footing” to ensure all victims are recovered and proper assistance is provided to affected families.
According to preliminary information, the group of tourists had been travelling together when the vehicle suddenly lost control in the ghat section, leading to the fatal plunge. Officials noted that the difficult geography of the Western Ghats region, combined with steep inclines and narrow roads, often makes rescue operations in such accidents particularly complex and time-sensitive.
In a separate but unrelated incident on the Mumbai–Agra Highway in Dhule earlier the same day, six more people were killed and 26 injured in a multi-vehicle collision, further highlighting ongoing concerns over road safety in Maharashtra. Police have launched investigations into both accidents as authorities work to determine the exact causes and contributing factors behind the deadly crashes.
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