8 youths booked for entering PANDAVKADA WATERFALLS

Kharghar police have booked eight youths for allegedly entering the premises of Pandavkada Waterfalls in Kharghar, despite police putting up posters and banners requesting citizens not to vist the place during heavy rains as a precautionary measure. The police have booked the accused for allegedly forming a group of more than four and disobedience under Section 144 (prohibit an assembly of more than four persons in an area) and 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and of the IPC respectively.

The eight persons, five from Navi Mumbai and three from Mumbai, were there for a getaway over the weekend. The group entered the premises of the waterfall despite heavy presence of billboards, posters, and banners suggesting the area is banned.

The police personnel, who were deployed there notice the visitors venturing in the water who, immediately intervened requesting them to come out of the water. When the group went ahead despite a police warning, the personnel then took the youths to the police station. The entry to the waterfalls has been banned since the beginning of the monsoon, and security has been beefed up on weekends with the deployment of more cops in the area to avoid any drowning incidents.

When contacted Pradeep Tidar, senior police inspector of Kharghar police station, confirmed the report and said, “This is the first time tourists have been booked for entering the waterfall premises, and more action will be taken if this does not stop. People should know this is being done for their own safety, and they should abide by the rules.” Pandavkada is one of the highest waterfalls with a height of 107 metres near Mumbai. As a monsoon attraction, many people visit this place.

However, due to overcrowding and water levels rising due to heavy rains, more than 10 people have lost their lives since 2014 to 2017.