Missing Navi Mumbai Law Student Found Dead in Lonavala Gorge: Pune Police Probe Underway
In a tragic incident, a 20-year-old law student from Navi Mumbai, who had been reported missing after visiting Lonavala, was discovered dead in a deep gorge at Tiger Point. The body was located approximately 400 feet down the ravine, prompting a thorough investigation by the Pune Rural Police into the circumstances surrounding her untimely demise.
Identification and Rescue Operation Details
The deceased has been identified as Shreya Narendrs Pati, a resident of Navi Mumbai who was pursuing her law degree at BITS Law School in Kalyan, Thane. According to police reports, her body was retrieved on Sunday night by a team of search and rescue experts from Shivdruga Mitra Trekkers. The operation was initiated after the body was spotted using a drone camera, highlighting the critical role of technology in modern rescue efforts.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Tragedy
Preliminary information from the police indicates that Shreya informed her family she was heading to Lonavala for a trek in the Duke's Nose area on Saturday, January 31. However, she failed to return home by evening, causing her family to travel to Lonavala and file a missing persons report at the Lonavala Rural police station on Sunday. During the investigation, authorities received information about a bag found at Tiger Point, which is more than 10 kilometers away from Duke's Nose, raising questions about her actual whereabouts.
An officer from the Pune Rural police stated, "After confirming the bag belonged to the missing girl, we called in the search and rescue experts from Shivdruga Mitra Trekkers. We deployed a dig squad and drones in the operation. Around 5 pm on Sunday, the drone located her body about 400 feet deep in the gorge, and the trekkers successfully retrieved it by 9 pm."
Police Investigation and Statements
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Lonavala Division) Gajanan Tonpe provided further insights, noting, "Our probe suggests she arrived alone at Tiger Point in a rickshaw. We have identified the driver and will record his statement as part of the ongoing investigation into the events leading to her death." The police are meticulously examining the sequence of events to determine whether this was an accident or if other factors were involved, emphasizing the need for caution during solo treks in such hazardous terrains.
This incident has sent shockwaves through the local community and beyond, underscoring the importance of safety measures for trekkers and the effectiveness of coordinated rescue operations in remote areas.
