“On July 1, police, Navy divers and other rescue teams resumed the search for two missing children who got swept away by a waterfall near Bhushi Dam in Pune’s Lonavala area,” officials said.
After the tragedy occurred on June 30, rescue workers managed to recover the bodies of a woman aged thirty-six years old and two girls. The others were still being searched for- Adnan Sabhahat Ansari (4) and Mariya Aqil Ansari (9), as reported by police officer.
According to an official of the police station in Lonavala, “The search operation for the two children resumed on Monday morning with the rescue teams of Vanyajeev Rakshak Maval, Shiv Durg Trekkers Organisation and Navy divers.”
A tragic video of people being carried away by surging water including victims was caused due to heavy rain in the area.
A search party recovered Shahista Liaqat Ansari (36), Amima Adil Ansari (13) and Umera Adil Ansari (8) from downstream of the reservoir on Sunday.
As per police, about 16-17 members belonging to a family from Sayyad Nagar area in Hadapsar hired a private bus to visit scenic spot near Lonavala on a rainy Sunday.
“Members of the Ansari family went to see the waterfall close to Bhushi Dam but were caught unawares when water flow rose due to intense rain in the area and were swept away,” said a police official. “There is this family that came from Mumbai for wedding some days ago” “More than 15 members hired a bus on sunday to go lonavala for picnic” he added.
During monsoons many tourists throng Bhushi and Pavana dam areas resulting into numerous accidents despite repeated warnings from local authorities as well as police about staying out off dangerous places. Over fifty thousand people visited Lonavala on June 30 alone, according to a police officer.
