On April 3, 2026, at 3:00 PM, a message was received by group members stating that the body of an unidentified individual had been spotted at the Kune Falls (also known as the Liril Waterfall), located opposite Summerhill. Preparations began immediately. The body was visible at a depth of approximately 400 feet. After completing our preparations and assembling the necessary equipment, we set off for the scene of the incident. This particular waterfall is the one visible in the Khandala Ghat section to travelers returning from Mumbai. During the monsoon season, this large stream carries a massive volume of water, which eventually cascades down into a deep valley. The flow continues downstream through the Ulhas Valley towards Karjat.
In the past, Shivdurg has successfully conducted search and rescue operations at this very location, as well as further down the valley extending all the way to Karjat.
To reach the site, one must turn left off the Mumbai-Pune Road onto the route leading to Rajmachi. After passing beneath the Expressway, one encounters a bridge; our destination lay at the stream flowing directly beneath this bridge. Formerly, this spot was a popular viewpoint that saw considerable foot traffic; however, few people visit it nowadays. The water is often polluted, requiring one to carefully navigate around the foul-smelling water to proceed further. Much like the routes through Akole Valley or Plus Valley, the terrain here is extremely challenging. There is no straightforward footpath; instead, one must traverse over massive boulders and loose stones—at times descending, at times scaling rock faces, and at times leaping through dense thickets—requiring absolute concentration with every single step. Eventually, the stream plunges vertically downward; it was at this final drop-off point that the deceased individual was spotted lying lifeless below.
The recovery operation commenced at 4:00 PM. Finding a level surface to establish our rigging setup proved difficult, as there were no natural anchor points readily available. Nevertheless, utilizing large boulders and sturdy trees as anchors, we successfully established the rigging system. Yogesh Umbare and Ayush Vartak then began their descent, rappelling down one after the other. Finally, the basket stretcher was lowered down into the gorge. Preparations were underway at the bottom, while the team at the top was making their own arrangements. Plastic sheeting and ropes had been lowered to the bottom to pack the body. Time was running short, and darkness had begun to deepen. Shortly thereafter, the body was packed into a basket stretcher. The plan was to hoist the stretcher up using a diagonal hauling system. The Shivdurg team stood ready at the top to pull, aided by villagers from Kune who had arrived to lend a hand. Police officers—Mr. Vani, Mr. Hanumant Shinde, and Mr. Sandeep Mankar—were personally present at the scene, and the entire search operation was being conducted under the guidance of Mr. Rajesh Ramaghare, the Police Inspector for Lonavala.
The hauling setup was successfully established. Mr. Sachin Gaikwad, Omkar Padwal, Suraj Ware, Mahesh Masne, and other young members of the technical team were stationed at the top. After coordinating with one another via walkie-talkies, they began pulling the stretcher upward. Within a short time, the stretcher reached the top. By now, night had fallen completely. The two individuals who had descended to the bottom still faced a major challenge: removing the anchors at the base and climbing back up. In the pitch darkness, no one moved ahead and left them behind; the entire team waited for them. The villagers departed once the body had been successfully brought to the top. Once the two individuals who had descended climbed back up using ‘jumaring’ techniques, the entire setup had to be dismantled, packed away, and secured before the team could leave. The entire team remained waiting until this was accomplished. Subsequently, six additional team members arrived, and a decision was made to transport the body out together. Work proceeded accordingly. The hauling setup had been dismantled, and now the entire group set off together. The journey back presented the same difficulties as before, compounded now by the darkness. We had covered about half the distance—carrying ropes and equipment—when we received a phone call from the ‘Dela’ team asking, “Do you need any assistance? Should we send some of our boys to help?” We immediately asked them to send reinforcements. A short while later, the team members arrived to assist us. Their help proved invaluable, making the remainder of the task much easier. At 9:45 PM, the body was officially handed over to the police. The deceased remains an unidentified male; the Lonavala City Police are currently conducting further investigations into the matter. Thank you to the villagers of Kune, the Della Adventure Team, and the Police Administration.
Today’s Team:
Sachin Gaikwad (Sir)
Mahesh Masne
Yogesh Umbare
Ayush Vartak
Omkar Padwal
Suraj Vare
Ayush Pawar
Sagar Dalvi
Samarth Gambhir
Aditi Gaikwad
Karan Vare
Yogesh Dalvi
Pranay Ambure
Rohit Phunse (+1)
Vinayak Shinde
Swapnil Dhakol
Sagar Kumbhar
Anil Sutar
Anand Gawade
Sameer Joshi
Ganesh Mhaskar
Vishnu Raut
Vishal Pise (+1)
Ganesh Jadhav
Sunil Gaikwad
and
Della Adventure Rescue Team
Shivdurg Mitra Lonavala
Rescue Team
9822500884
8308296655
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