Young engineer, 23, loses life as boulder hits him during landslide near Kalu waterfall
Pune: A 23-year-old engineer from Kharadi lost his life and his friend sustained injuries after being struck by a falling boulder during a landslide near the Kalu waterfall in Malshej Ghat, about 150 km from Pune.
The tragedy occurred on Sunday afternoon while the victim and his two friends were trekking with an adventure group from Pune, said assistant police inspector Shitalkumar Naik of Tokawade police station under Thane Rural jurisdiction.
According to Naik, the victim, identified as Himal Kumar Singh, had arrived at the Kalu waterfall site with his friends earlier in the day. “After exploring the spot for some time, they started their return journey. During this time, a landslide occurred, and one of the boulders struck Singh on the head and face, killing him instantly. His friend, Anshuman Maurya (23), also suffered injuries. With help from locals, our team carried Singh’s body to the roadside, after which it was sent for post-mortem,” Naik explained.
The Kalu waterfall, situated in the scenic Malshej Ghat region, is a popular monsoon destination drawing thousands of tourists from Mumbai and Pune. However, the terrain is prone to slippery stretches and loose rocks, making it accident-prone.
This is not the first such incident this season. On July 27, over 300 trekkers—including 100 women—were rescued by Thane and Junnar forest officials after they got stranded in the forest when the Kalu river swelled due to heavy rainfall. Earlier, on July 11, a youth from Hyderabad had to be rescued from the same location.
