Maharashtra: Eight people dead as Scorpio plunges into deep gorge

Mumbai : A devastating road accident claimed the lives of eight individuals after an SUV careened off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in the treacherous Ambenali Ghat section of Maharashtra’s Raigad district. The victims, primarily young residents from Satara district, were returning home after a trip to a coastal town when the tragedy struck.

According to local police officials, the accident occurred during the early hours on the Poladpur-Mahabaleshwar road. Preliminary investigations suggest that the driver lost control of the speeding vehicle while navigating a sharp, perilous curve in the ghat section, causing the vehicle to tumble several hundred feet into the rocky ravine.

The incident came to light after concerned relatives launched a search when the group failed to reach their destination. Authorities managed to trace the victims' final mobile network signals near Poladpur. Upon inspecting the scenic yet dangerous mountain pass, search teams spotted the mangled wreckage deep inside the valley.

Local emergency response units, including the police, regional trekkers, and regional disaster management teams, quickly initiated a high-risk recovery operation. The extreme depth of the gorge, combined with difficult terrain, severely challenged retrieval efforts. Rescuers have managed to recover multiple bodies from the crash site as operations continue on a war footing.

Ambenali Ghat is notorious for its blind turns and steep drops, having witnessed similar major transport disasters in the past. Local administrative authorities have once again urged motorists to exercise extreme caution, limit speeds, and avoid overnight driving through the hazardous mountain corridor.