Kharghar: A 23-year-old man drowned at the popular Pandavkada Waterfall in Kharghar on Thursday, August 13, amid heavy rainfall and a strong flow of water. The deceased has been identified as Aditya Vishwakarma.

The Kharghar Fire Station received information about the drowning around 2:15 pm. A CIDCO fire vehicle and a team of firefighters rushed to the spot, where heavy rain was lashing the area, and a large volume of water was cascading down the waterfall, making the rescue operation extremely challenging.

Firefighters initially conducted a search using ropes but could not locate the missing man. They subsequently entered the water and searched the surrounding area, during which the victim was found trapped in a crevice between rocks at a depth of approximately 10 to 12 feet.

The firefighters carefully pulled him out of the water and placed him on a stretcher, before bringing him down from the hill and shifting him to a waiting ambulance. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared dead.

Personnel from Kharghar Police Station were also present at the spot and assisted during the operation.

The rescue was carried out by Fire Rescuer Prashant Darekar along with firemen Suraj Patil, Pritam Patil, Chetan Pawar and Kaustubh Vaydande of the CIDCO Kharghar Fire Station.

The incident has once again highlighted the dangers of visiting waterfalls during the monsoon, when a sudden increase in water flow can pose a serious threat to visitors. Authorities have urged citizens to avoid entering restricted or dangerous areas around waterfalls during heavy rains.