Family of seven swept away in swollen waterfall near Mumbai, captured on camera

PTC News Desk: In the middle of a rushing waterfall in Lonavala, near Mumbai, a man, a lady, and children clinging to them for support were washed away by the surging waters. Out of them, just two were able to swim back.

The seven-member family was vacationing at the hill station, which is only 80 kilometers from Mumbai. As of now, three bodies have been found, and tomorrow at dawn, the search and rescue operation will continue.

The family spent this afternoon having a picnic by the waterfall next to the Bhusi Dam’s backwaters, just like the hundreds of visitors who flock to this hill town during the monsoon season. The dam overflowed due to heavy rains that have been falling on the area since the early hours of the morning, increasing the waterfall’s water flow.

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Horrifying images of the family’s final moments showed them clutching onto each other while perched on a rock in the center of the rhapsodic falls in the hopes of eluding the tide and making landfall.

They shouted and cried out for aid, but in less than a minute, the overwhelming force of the flowing river overcame them and carried them downstream.

The roaring waters prevented anyone from jumping to the other tourists’ aid as they gathered on the banks and cried out for assistance.

The incident occurred this afternoon around 1:30 pm. Ropes and trekking equipment were brought in as locals and police raced to the scene to start searching for survivors.

The tourists drowned in the reservoir downstream after falling under a waterfall, according to the authorities, as reported by news agency PTI. According to locals, they might have fallen on the mossy rocks they were standing on at the foot of the falls and been carried away by the water’s force, news agency IANS reported.

Concerns regarding the security measures at the waterfall and the Bhusi dam downstream have been raised by the tragedy.

Hundreds of people were seen sitting on the dam’s wall and edge while water flowed in another alleged footage from the same location. In the center of the waterfall, food vendors could be spotted, and visitors were enjoying the roaring waters without worrying about safety. Additionally, there was no visible security setup in the area to deter tourists from entering. 

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