Youth Falls Off into Deep Valley at Sinhagad Fort; Search Continues

Pune, August 21, 2025: A 24-year-old tourist from Hyderabad went missing after falling into a deep valley near the Tanaji Cliff at Sinhagad Fort in Pune on Wednesday evening. The missing youth has been identified as Gautam Gaikwad, who had come to Pune with five friends.

According to police, the group had reached Sinhagad around 4.30 pm and later went to the Tanaji Cliff area to enjoy the view. While there, Gautam told his friends he was stepping aside for a moment but did not return. His friends searched for him and later found his slippers near the Hawa Point, close to the cliff, but there was no trace of him.

It is being assumed that heavy rain and strong winds in the area may have caused him to slip and fall into the valley, which is nearly a thousand feet deep. His friends suspect he may have lost balance due to the slippery ground and poor visibility.

Local police, disaster management teams, and trekking volunteers immediately launched a search operation. Teams descended into the valley despite difficult weather conditions, but darkness forced them to halt the operation around 11 pm. The search resumed early Thursday morning at 6 am and was still underway till 4 pm.

Sinhagad Fort is a popular monsoon destination for tourists from across Maharashtra and beyond. However, the incident has raised concerns about safety around dangerous cliff points, especially during the rainy season when the terrain becomes slippery and risky.