Hyd tourist falls into rushing water at Kalu Waterfall, rescued by youths

Pune: An alert group of youngsters saved the life of a tourist from Hyderabad, who accidentally fell into the rushing water at the base of the famous Kalu Waterfall on Saturday.The tourist site is located in Khireshwar village, Junnar tehsil — about 100km from Pune. The incident occurred on Saturday evening when the tourist, unfamiliar with the area’s geography, ventured too deep into the valley near the waterfall and fell into the rushing water at its base.According to Range Forest Officer Lahu Thokal, the tourist managed to grab onto a rocky cliff. A group of local youths, who witnessed the accident rushed to his rescue and, with the help of a dupatta, pulled the tourist to safety. Thokal said the youths are part of a village-level rescue team formed by the forest department. This is part of an initiative by forest officials to train local youths as guides.“Today too, locals played a key role. Otherwise, nobody would have come forward to save the tourist,” Thokal said, advising tourists to take a guide to visit these spots, for their own safety.Thousands of tourists, especially from Pune and Mumbai, visit the waterfall — in the Malshej Ghat region — for its stunning natural vista. The spot is particularly popular among trekkers and nature enthusiasts during the monsoon. Kalu River cascades from a height of 1,200 feet, making the waterfall one of the largest in the region.However, locals have expressed concerns about safety at the site, noting that many visitors died due to inadequate safety measures. Additionally, many recreational visitors neglect their safety. The area is fraught with slippery patches and unstable rocks, increasing the risk of accidents.Tushar Memane, a local resident, said, “Visitors often watch videos on social media and are drawn to the spot. They try to capture videos and photos of the waterfall and its surroundings, but in doing so, they overlook their safety.” He said such activities can be regulated only if forest or police officials deploy personnel to manage guards.However, Thokal said controlling crowds becomes difficult during the monsoon. “Despite checkpoints at multiple locations and warning signs along the route to the waterfall, visitors don’t pay heed. It is difficult to deploy personnel at each point,” he said.“We have been urging visitors to enjoy these places with caution, but often, they ignore our instructions ... every year, we rescue people from treacherous spots,” said Smita Rajhans, assistant conservator of forests.