Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Jun 16: In two separate incidents on Sunday, June 15, Maharashtra witnessed heartbreaking tragedies, claiming six lives — three young students drowned in Charlotte Lake, Matheran, while a bridge collapse in Pune district killed four and injured over 50 others.

In Matheran, a popular hill station near Mumbai, three college students from Navi Mumbai’s Koparkhairane area drowned in Charlotte Lake during a monsoon outing. The group of ten friends had first visited the nearby Pisharnath Temple before heading to the lake. One student reportedly slipped and fell into the water. Two of his friends jumped in to save him but were also dragged under.

Despite swift action by Matheran Police and the Sahyadri Emergency Rescue Team, all three could not be saved. The deceased were identified as Sumit Chavan (16), Aryan Khobragade (19), and Firoz Shaikh (19).

In another tragic incident on the same day, a narrow, old bridge over the Indrayani River near Talegaon in Pune district collapsed under the weight of a large crowd. The mishap claimed four lives, with 51 others sustaining injuries.

“There was a huge crowd on the bridge, and traffic was jammed. People standing in the middle suddenly fell as the bridge gave way,” said a survivor.

The deceased were identified as Chandrakant Salve, Rohit Mane, and Vihaan Mane, while one victim remains unidentified. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, and a probe has been launched to assess the safety of similar aging structures in the region.

Both incidents have cast a dark shadow over the monsoon season, with authorities urging the public to exercise caution during outings.