Over 300 trekkers rescued in Maharashtra’s Malshej Ghat; Kalu river surge traps group, locals, forest teams lead 7-hour operation

PUNE: Over 300 trekkers, including 100 women, were rescued by the Thane and Junnar forest divisions with help from local villagers during a seven-hour operation on Saturday at Wagachiwadi village in the Malshej Ghat region.

This area lies on the border between Pune and Thane districts, about 150 km from Pune, near the Kalyan-Ahmednagar highway.The trekkers came from Hyderabad, Pune, and Mumbai but became stranded in the forest after the Kalu River’s water level rose due to heavy rainfall in the afternoon, according to forest officials and locals. The forest officials were notified of their entrapment after receiving a call from the state disaster management cell and district administrations.The rescue operation was particularly hazardous, as locals had to swim through the rushing waters to secure ropes and harnesses to trees, using a zipline to transport individuals across the river. Bhaskar Mengal (24), a villager from Morushi village who played a crucial role in the rescue, told TOI, “The river water was gushing, and there was no other way to reach the other side. Since I am familiar with the local conditions, I swam across the river to tie ropes and a harness to the trees.

The tourists were scared, and tensions were high. I had to calm them down.”

“I prioritised rescuing women. Since we were using the zipline to cross the river, I had to explain the technique to them and assure them that they would not fall. We successfully sent them across one by one. Eventually, another villager, Kamlu Pokla, and forest guards joined me.” Pokla, who has successfully rescued several stranded tourists in the past, added, “During the night, the tourists began to panic and were hesitant to follow our instructions as everybody wanted to go to the other side.

We had to calm them down before rescuing them from the deep forest.”Forest officials said that the tourists ventured into the restricted dense forest that Saturday morning without consulting locals. “They were unaware of the local conditions, which led to their entrapment when the river’s water level suddenly increased within a few hours. This area is extremely treacherous and risky for visitors,” Rajvardhan Bhosale, the Range Forest Officer of the Tokavade forest range in Thane district, told TOI.The rescue operation began at 3 PM and concluded by 10 PM, successfully bringing everyone to safety. Most tourists prefer to approach the Kalu River waterfall from the Murbad tehsil side because the trek to the waterfall is steep. However, this particular zone is located within a reserved forest area, home to a large population of wildlife, including leopards and venomous snakes, said the forest officials.Smita Rajhans, assistant forest officer of the Junnar forest division, said, “As many tourists share videos on social media, an increasing number of visitors from other states are coming to Junnar and the surrounding areas for trekking to enjoy the rains.

They often disregard their safety, neglect to hire locals for guidance, and attempt adventurous activities in these dense forest zones, leading to their entrapment as they miss the trails.

”The Malshej Ghat, Naneghat, and several villages in the Murbad tehsil of Thane district are known for their alluring jungle treks and trails. This region receives over 200 mm of rainfall within 24 hours, causing local streams, waterfalls, and rivulets to flow at capacity.

Consequently, there are numerous small and medium-sized waterfalls in the area.“The natural beauty of these water bodies attracts tourists from various parts of the country, and even international visitors have started flocking to these spots. Hence, it has become imperative for us to enhance basic safety infrastructure in these locations,” said a senior forest official.Kalu Waterfall: The famous Kalu Waterfall is situated in the Khireshwar village, Junnar tehsil, approximately 150 km from Pune.

Due to unfamiliarity with the region's geography, a tourist ventured too deep into the valley near the waterfall and accidentally fell into the rushing water at its base. The Kalu Waterfall, located in the Malshej Ghat region, is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and attracts thousands of visitors, especially from Mumbai and Pune, particularly during the monsoon season.

With a height of 1,200 feet, the Kalu River cascades, making it one of the largest waterfalls in the region and the district.However, locals have voiced concerns about safety at the site, noting that inadequate safety measures have resulted in numerous fatalities. The area is prone to slippery patches and unstable rocks, raising the risk of accidents.Visitors are often drawn to the site due to videos shared on social media, compelling them to capture their experiences.Past Incidents: On July 12, a group of local youths rescued a youth from Hyderabad at Kalu Waterfall.

On June 6, a 23-year-old woman tragically lost her life after falling into a 150-foot-deep gorge while trekking at Rajgad Fort in the evening hours. On July 13, six trekkers lost their way while descending from Visapur Fort in Lonavala. The members of the local rescue team rescued them. They were in the forest for almost four hours. In 2022, a software engineer (33) from Hyderabad experienced a scare after losing his way during a solo trek on a 30 km treacherous route from Sonavelu village in Murbad tehsil of Thane to Konkan Kada in Junnar, passing through hilly and forest areas.