The bodies of a 36-year-old woman and two girls, aged 13 and 8, were tragically discovered in the backwater of Bhushi Dam in Lonavala on Sunday. Currently, authorities are actively searching for a nine-year-old boy and a four-year-old girl who remain missing.
The victims have been identified as Sahista Liyaqat Ansari (36), Amima Salman (13), and Umera Salman (8), along with Adnan Ansari (4) and Maria Ansari (9).
The unfortunate incident occurred due to a sudden surge in water levels at the tourist hotspot caused by continuous rainfall over recent days. The Ansari family was among ten individuals caught in the swiftly rising water. While five managed to escape, the remaining five, including the children, were swept away by the strong current around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Local authorities were promptly alerted, and search and rescue operations commenced immediately. As of now, the bodies of the woman and two girls have been recovered, while efforts persist to locate the missing children.
Senior Police Inspector Suhas Jagtap of the Lonavala Police Station has issued a plea to tourists, urging them to avoid unfamiliar areas during the monsoon season to prevent such tragic incidents. He emphasized cooperation with law enforcement in areas around Bhushi Dam, as well as other nearby locations prone to water-related risks like Tata Dam, Tungarli Dam, and Rajmachi Point.
This unfortunate event echoes a similar tragedy in April, where five students drowned while swimming in the river Cauvery in Karnataka's Ramanagara district. The incident occurred during an afternoon outing, highlighting the dangers associated with water activities during the monsoon season.
Authorities continue to stress caution and adherence to safety guidelines to prevent further loss of life in such precarious conditions.
