A 20-year-old tourist died after falling into an approximately 200-metre-deep gorge at Plus Valley in Mulshi taluka, Pune district, while returning from the Milkybar waterfall with four friends. The accident occurred after the group chose a shortcut instead of the regular trail, according to a report by Lokmat – Pune.
The deceased was identified as Sahid Ansari, who was living in Tathawade and originally belonged to Baiktapur in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district. He had travelled to the Plus Valley area with his friends for sightseeing.
According to the report, Ansari and his companions were returning after visiting the waterfall when they took an alternative route through a hilly section with an estimated 45-degree slope. Ansari reportedly lost his footing while crossing the steep terrain and fell into the gorge. He died at the site.
The difficult terrain delayed the recovery operation. Roha Rescue Team, SVRSS and personnel from Paud police station coordinated the response after receiving information about the incident. Because the location was steep and hazardous, rescuers used a technical rope-rescue operation to reach the gorge and retrieve the body.
The incident highlights the risks faced by visitors at natural tourism locations where steep slopes, uneven trails and deep gorges can make informal routes dangerous. The report did not provide details of whether the route had warning signs, physical barriers or other visitor-safety measures at the location.
Paud police station inspector Mahesh Meshram appealed to tourists not to take unnecessary risks at scenic destinations. He advised visitors against using dangerous shortcuts and urged them to remain on authorised and regular paths while travelling through such areas.
The recovery operation was completed with the coordination of the rescue teams and Paud police. Authorities’ safety advice remains focused on using designated trails and avoiding unstable or steep terrain around the Plus Valley and its waterfalls.
