Marathi actor Mahesh Pawar dies after SUV falls into Raigad gorge
Marathi actor Mahesh Pawar died after an SUV plunged into a deep gorge in Maharashtra's Raigad district, leaving seven others dead in the tragic accident.
Mahesh Pawar, known for his role in the television show Appi Amchi Collector, died in a tragic road accident after an SUV plunged more than 1,000 feet into a gorge in Maharashtra’s Raigad district. He was 25. Seven others travelling with him were also killed in the crash, officials said on Monday.
The accident took place in the Ambenali Ghat area on the Poladpur-Mahabaleshwar road, around 180 km from Mumbai, PTI reported. According to officials, all eight victims were travelling together when the SUV lost control and fell into the deep gorge along the hilly stretch.
Police said the victims’ last location was traced through a mobile tower near Poladpur. During a search operation in the Ambenali Ghat section on Monday morning, officials spotted the vehicle deep inside the gorge. Preliminary investigations suggest the driver may have lost control of the SUV before it plunged down the valley.
Who were the victims in the Raigad accident?
According to police, the victims were between 19 and 35 years old and had left Harne in Dapoli at around 2 am on Sunday. When they failed to reach Satara, worried family members began searching for them before eventually approaching the police.
Officials identified the victims as Ritesh Lokhande, 22, Suhas Lokhande, 20, Utkarsh Shingte, 21, Nikhil Shingte, 25, Mahesh Pawar, 25, Aditya Salunkhe, 21, Rajesh Katkar, 35, all residents of Satara, and Ansh Chavan, 19, from Ratnagiri.
What did Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis say?
CM Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief over the deaths and said rescue operations were being carried out on a “war footing”.
In a statement, Fadnavis said the eight friends were on a trip when their vehicle plunged nearly 1,500 feet into the gorge. He added that the district administration immediately launched rescue and relief operations and formed five teams consisting of seven members each to retrieve the bodies.
The Chief Minister also said rescue efforts were continuing with the help of the National Disaster Response Force and voluntary rescue teams.
What was Mahesh Pawar known for?
Mahesh Pawar was recognised for his appearance in Appi Amchi Collector, a popular Marathi television show. News of his sudden death has shocked many in the Marathi entertainment industry and among viewers of the show.
The accident has once again drawn attention to the dangers associated with driving through the winding and steep stretches of the Ambenali Ghat region.