Three Youths Drown in Pavana River at Thugav While Attempting Rescue

Three Pune youths drowned in the Pavana River at Thugav after one struggled in deep water and two friends attempted a rescue. Local teams retrieved bodies; police probe circumstances

Urse Maval | 04 May 2026: A leisure outing turned fatal on Sunday afternoon when three young men from Pune drowned in the Pavana River near Thugav village in Maval taluka. Police and local rescuers said the tragedy unfolded after one member of the group misjudged the river’s depth and two friends entered the water in a bid to save him.

According to preliminary information, eight friends from Vishrantwadi had travelled to the Thugav stretch for a day trip. Witness accounts indicate that one youth stepped into the river to swim but soon began to struggle in a deeper patch with an uneven riverbed. Seeing him in distress, two companions rushed in without flotation support. The current and depth proved overwhelming, and all three were pulled under before bystanders could intervene.

The deceased were identified as Prathamesh Shinde, Ashwin Bhalerao, and Ayan Sheikh, all residents of Vishrantwadi, Pune. Locals alerted authorities and volunteer responders as soon as the emergency became apparent.

Members of two volunteer rescue groupsWildlife Rescuers Maval and Shivdurg Mitra Lonavala reached the spot along with villagers and police personnel. After sustained efforts that involved scanning the riverbed and navigating strong undercurrents, the teams recovered the bodies from the water. Officials said the operation was complicated by murky visibility and sudden depth variations common to the river’s rocky stretches.

This is the third drowning-related incident reported in Maval taluka within two days, following fatalities at other nearby water bodies. The cluster of incidents has raised concerns about visitor awareness and the risks posed by unsupervised natural sites, particularly where currents, slippery rocks, and sudden drop-offs are not apparent to first-time visitors.

Police have initiated an inquiry to document the sequence of events and to determine whether additional safety advisories or signage are required at frequently visited spots. Authorities reiterated appeals for caution, advising visitors not to enter unfamiliar waters without safety gear and to avoid impulsive rescue attempts that can multiply casualties.

The incident has left families and friends in deep shock, casting a pall of grief over Thugav and Pune as the community mourns the sudden loss of three young lives.

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