Navi Mumbai, May 26: A birthday celebration trip turned tragic after eight friends from Satara district died when their SUV plunged nearly 1,200 feet into a valley in the Ambenali Ghat section near Poladpur in Raigad district early Sunday morning.
The deceased were identified as Ansh Sameer Chavan (19), a resident of Borgaon in Chiplun taluka of Ratnagiri district; Ritesh Rajendra Lokhande (22) and Suhas Jitendra Lokhande (20), both residents of Asgaon in Satara district; Utkarsh Anand Shingte (21) and Nikhil Abhimanyu Shingte (21), both residents of Marde in Satara district; Mahesh Anil Pawar (25) and Aditya Ashok Salunkhe (21), both from Asgaon in Satara district; and Sandeep Ashok Katkar (35), a resident of Khatav in Satara district, who was driving the vehicle.
Driver suspected to have fallen asleep
According to the Raigad police, the group had left Satara on Friday night to celebrate Pawar’s birthday and reached Dapoli at around 4 am. After spending time there, they began their return journey at around 2 am on Sunday. Police suspect that the accident occurred at approximately 5.30 am in the Ambenali Ghat section on the Poladpur-Mahabaleshwar route.
Police suspect the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel after prolonged travel and lack of sleep.
“The driver is suspected to have fallen asleep due to extensive travelling with no sleep, which caused the accident. We are investigating the matter,” Assistant Police Inspector Anand Rawade of Poladpur police station said. Currently, a case of accident is registered with Poladpur police and the responsibility for the accident has not been fixed against anyone yet, police said.
Massive rescue operation launched
The accident triggered a massive rescue operation involving police personnel and several volunteer rescue groups, including Pratapgad Rescue Trekkers, Mahad Siscape Rescue Team, Roha Rescue Team, Narveer Rescue Team, Kalbhairavnath Rescue Team and Mahabaleshwar Trekkers, along with villagers from nearby areas.
Police said the vehicle fell into a deep gorge in one of the most dangerous stretches of the Ambenali Ghat, making rescue and recovery efforts extremely difficult. All eight occupants are believed to have died on the spot due to the severe impact of the crash.
The bodies were recovered after an operation lasting nearly 22 hours.
To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/
