Two Young Tourists Lose Their Lives in Separate Tragedies at Kalu River, Malshej Ghat

On a rain‑soaked Saturday in Malshej Ghat, the Kalu River proved far more unforgiving than the tourists who came to enjoy its misty beauty. Two separate groups of friends, unaware of the river’s hidden fury, stepped onto the slick riverbank near the Kalu Waterfall and never returned.

At about 1:30 p.m., 18‑year‑old Pavan Sham Sathe, a resident of Malkapur in Buldhana district, was swept away. He had been staying with his brother in Pune and had travelled to the popular spot with a close‑knit bunch of friends. A sudden surge, fuelled by hours of steady monsoon rain, grabbed him and dragged him downstream. Rescue teams, already on standby, rushed in but could only pull his lifeless body from the water after a frantic search.

Just two hours later, the tragedy struck again. Raman Vijay Annapure, a 20‑year‑old engineering student from Nanded who was studying in Pune, tried to cross the river with his companions. He slipped on the wet stones, and the river’s swift current seized him before anyone could reach him. After an extensive effort involving police, local volunteers, and a few daring volunteers from nearby villages, his body was recovered downstream.

Police officials say the relentless monsoon rains have swollen the Kalu River, turning a normally placid stream into a dangerous torrent. They reiterated that they had issued clear advisories days earlier, urging visitors to avoid rivers, streams and waterfalls during the peak rainy season. Unfortunately, the warnings went unheard, and the sudden, unpredictable rise in water level turned fatal in a matter of minutes.

The twin losses have sent a somber ripple through the local community and the wider region. Authorities have once more appealed to tourists and locals alike: stay away from water bodies during heavy rain, heed posted signs, and never underestimate the power of a river that looks calm on the surface. Safety teams are now patrolling the area more aggressively, hoping to prevent any further heartbreak.