Seven of family swept away in waterfall, three bodies recovered

MUMBAI: Three members of a family of seven were swept away by the gushing waters in Lonavala near Mumbai. Five including a man, a woman and a child, were swept away. The bodies of three of them were recovered. Two more are still missing. People who witnessed the incident informed that two swam to safety.

The seven-member family were holidaying in the hill station just 80 km from Mumbai. The family of seven went picnicking at the waterfall near the backwaters of the Bhusi Dam Sunday afternoon. Heavy rains caused the dam to overflow which increased the flow of water in the waterfall.

The seven-member family was slowly moving ashore to escape the strong current, but was swept away within seconds. The tragic incident happened last afternoon at 1.30 pm. Local residents and the police reached the spot and started rescue operations within seconds after knowing about the incident.

Locals said the family slipped on the mossy boulders they were standing on at the base of the falls and were swept away by the force of the water. The accident raised concerns over security arrangements in the waterfall. Locals claim that there are food stalls right in the middle of the waterfalls. Moreover, due to lack of adequate security personnel, tourists who do not know the place often end up in danger.