Thar Car Falls 500 Feet into Tamhini Ghat Gorge; Four Bodies Found, All From Pune

Pune/Raigad: A tragic accident has been reported in Tamhini Ghat, where a Thar SUV carrying six youths from Pune plunged nearly 500 feet into a deep gorge. Authorities fear that all six occupants may have died in the accident.
Drone surveillance revealed the presence of four bodies, while the search for the remaining two continues.

Initial reports suggest the accident occurred late Monday night (17 November). Due to darkness, the crash went unnoticed, and the vehicle remained hidden in the steep valley.

Details of the Youths Involved

The six friends, all residents of Uttamnagar and Kopre areas of Pune, were identified as:

Pratham Shahaji Chavan (22)

Punit Sudhark Shetty (20)

Sahil Sadhu Bote (24)

Shri Mahadev Koli (18)

Omkar Sunil Koli (18)

Shiva Arun Mane (19)

They had left Pune around 11:30 PM on Monday in a Thar SUV (MH 12 YN 8004) for a leisure trip to Konkan. When they did not contact their families, relatives filed a missing persons complaint with Uttamnagar Police.

Drone Footage Reveals Car and Bodies

Police traced the location using CCTV and mobile coordinates. On Thursday (20 November), a drone search revealed the wrecked vehicle and four bodies deep inside the valley, prompting immediate rescue operations.

Rescue Efforts Extremely Challenging

The depth of the ravine and dense terrain have made recovery operations difficult. Teams involved include:

Raigad Police

Mangaon Police

Raigad Disaster Management

Mulshi Taluka Disaster Response Team

Local villagers

Probable Cause of the Crash

According to police, the SUV likely lost control at a sharp curve past Kondethar village — an accident-prone section of Tamhini Ghat. The region is known for dangerous hairpin bends, steep drops, and low visibility.
Locals emphasized the urgent need for strong protective walls, better speed-control measures, and reinforced barriers in the area.