A 21-year-old woman, Komal Shinde from Alandi, Pune, died after falling nearly 400 feet from the Balekilla of Rajgad Fort on the evening of June 5. Komal was visiting the fort with her husband when the accident occurred around 5 PM.
Due to rain earlier in the day, the trail had become slippery. Komal reportedly slipped while trekking and fell near the base of Sanjeevani and Suvela Machis. She suffered severe head and facial injuries and died on the spot due to heavy bleeding.
Local volunteers helped recover her body, which was later moved to the Rajsadar area. Velhe police and disaster management teams reached the site and carried out a spot inspection. The body was sent for postmortem. An investigation is underway.
This comes days after the Forest Department issued precautionary advice to trekkers in Pune. As the monsoon season drew near, the Deputy Conservator of Forests for the Pune Forest Division, Tushar Chavan, had urged trekkers and outdoor enthusiasts to be conscious of their environmental impact while enjoying their outdoor activities.
The appeal was made keeping in mind the mishaps that took place last monsoon. In a tragic incident last year, five members of a family lost their lives near Maharashtra's Bhushi Dam near Lonavala. In Pune district, the tehsils around the Western Ghats, including Maval, Khed, Mulshi, Bhor, Junnar, Ambegaon, and Velhe, experience significant tourism activity and also have the potential for hazards.
Famous spots in Pune:
Maval Tehsil: Bhushi Dam, Bendewadi and Dahuli Waterfalls
Khandala: Tiger Point, Lion's Point, Rajmachi Point
Pavana Dam region: Sahara Bridge, Tata Dam, Ghubad Lake
Mulshi Tehsil: Mulshi Dam, Tamhini Ghat, Milkybar Waterfall
Khadakwasla and Warasgaon Dams: Haveli Tehsil
Ambegaon Tehsil: Bhimashankar, Dimbhe Dam, Kondhwal Waterfall
Junnar Tehsil: Malshej Ghat, Shivneri Fort, Manikdoh
Bhor and Velhe Tehsils: Bhatghar Dam, other waterfalls and water bodies
Khed and Indapur Tehsils: Water bodies and ghat sections
