1 dead, 3 rescued after flash flood hits waterfall in Thane; search on for missing tourist | Thane News

A flash flood near a Thane waterfall claimed one life and left another tourist missing (AI-generated image used for representational purposes)

THANE: A 21-year-old man died, another went missing, and three tourists were rescued after they were swept away in a flash flood triggered by heavy rain near a waterfall in Maharashtra’s Thane district on Sunday.The incident took place near a popular waterfall at Chondhe in the Dolkhamb area of Shahapur taluka, where five friends from Kalyan had gone for a weekend outing, news agency PTI reported.An official said the weather in the forested region changed suddenly late on Sunday afternoon, with intense localised rainfall resembling a cloudburst.The heavy downpour caused water levels in a nearby stream to rise rapidly within minutes, sweeping all five tourists away in the strong currents.

“Rescue personnel rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information. Despite fast-flowing water and persistent rainfall, three individuals were successfully pulled out to safety during a challenging rescue effort,” the official said.The deceased has been identified as Akash Deshmukh, 21, a resident of Adharwadi in Kalyan. Search teams recovered his body downstream later in the evening.The missing tourist has been identified as Dinesh Mandalkar, 34, of Kalyan East.Search operations are continuing to trace him, PTI reported.Authorities have repeatedly urged tourists to avoid visiting waterfalls, rivers and overflow points during the monsoon season, warning of the dangers posed by sudden flash floods.(With agency inputs)