8 tourists killed as vehicle plunges into Raigad gorge; rescue on
Synopsis
Eight friends on a trip from Konkan to Satara never reached their destination — their vehicle plunged 1,500 feet into a valley at Ambenali Ghat in Raigad. With bodies scattered across the gorge floor and NDRF teams rappelling down, Maharashtra is also counting six more dead from a separate highway pile-up in Dhule on the same day.
Key Takeaways
Eight tourists were killed after their vehicle fell into a 1,500-feet-deep gorge at Ambenali Ghat, Raigad district , on 25 May 2025 .
Three bodies have been recovered so far; the remaining are being retrieved by five teams of seven personnel each, with NDRF support.
Of the deceased, one is from Ratnagiri and seven are from Satara district .
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief on X and confirmed rescue operations are underway on a war footing.
In a separate accident at Laling Ghat, Dhule , six people were killed and 26 injured in a multi-vehicle collision on the Mumbai-Agra Highway .
At least eight tourists were killed on Monday, 25 May after their vehicle lost control and plunged into a valley nearly 1,500 feet deep at Ambenali Ghat in Raigad district, Maharashtra, officials said. The group was travelling from the Konkan region to Satara when the accident occurred in the hilly terrain. Rescue operations are currently underway, with teams battling the extreme depth of the gorge and difficult terrain.
What Happened at Ambenali Ghat
According to officials, the tourist vehicle reportedly lost control on the ghat road and plunged into the deep valley below. The sheer depth of the fall has scattered the bodies across multiple locations, significantly complicating recovery efforts. Three bodies had been retrieved as of the latest update, with all recovered remains sent for post-mortem examination.
Rescue Operation in Progress
The district administration has deployed five rescue teams, each comprising seven personnel, drawn from the police, local administration, and disaster response units. Assistance from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also been requisitioned. Rescue workers are using ropes and specialised equipment to access the gorge floor. Voluntary rescue teams are also supporting the operation. Officials said the remaining bodies will be retrieved at the earliest.
Of the eight deceased, one is from Ratnagiri district and the remaining seven are from Satara district. The identities of the victims have not yet been officially confirmed. Both Raigad and Satara police forces are coordinating the response.
CM Fadnavis Expresses Grief
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed condolences in a post on X, calling the incident 'extremely heartbreaking.' He said: 'The tragic incident in which 8 people lost their lives in a fatal accident at Ambenali Ghat in Raigad district is extremely heartbreaking. I pay my heartfelt tribute to them. We share in the grief of their families.' Fadnavis confirmed that relief and rescue operations had been initiated on a war footing.
Second Accident: Six Killed on Mumbai-Agra Highway
In a separate road accident reported from Dhule earlier the same day, six people were killed and 26 others injured in a multi-vehicle collision on the Mumbai-Agra Highway at Laling Ghat. According to officials, a dumper truck first collided with a standard truck. While toll employees and local residents were attending to the injured, a speeding passenger bus travelling from Madhya Pradesh reportedly lost control and rammed into the damaged vehicles. A toll employee who was assisting in the rescue was among those killed. All injured persons were shifted to the District Hospital, and police have launched an investigation. Traffic on the highway was disrupted for a period following the incident.
The twin tragedies on 25 May have put Maharashtra's road safety record under fresh scrutiny, with ghat roads in the Konkan and northern Maharashtra regions posing recurring risks during the pre-monsoon travel season.
Point of View
The other a highway pile-up at Laling Ghat — are not coincidental in timing. Ghat roads in the Konkan belt carry heavy tourist traffic in the pre-monsoon weeks, yet guardrail upgrades and speed enforcement on these stretches remain chronically underfunded. The Dhule accident, where a rescue worker was killed by a second vehicle while aiding victims, points to a systemic failure: no traffic management protocol at accident sites on national highways. Maharashtra's road fatality data consistently ranks among the highest in India, and recurring ghat accidents suggest that CM Fadnavis's condolences, however sincere, are substituting for structural intervention.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the Raigad tourist vehicle accident happen?
The accident occurred at Ambenali Ghat in Raigad district, Maharashtra, where the vehicle reportedly lost control and plunged approximately 1,500 feet into a valley. The group was travelling from the Konkan region to Satara.
How many people were killed in the Raigad gorge accident?
Eight tourists were killed. Of the deceased, one is from Ratnagiri district and seven are from Satara district. Their identities have not yet been officially confirmed.
What is the status of the rescue operation at Ambenali Ghat?
As of the latest update, three bodies have been recovered and sent for post-mortem. Five rescue teams of seven personnel each are deployed, with NDRF assistance and voluntary rescue groups also on site. The remaining bodies are yet to be retrieved.
What did Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis say about the accident?
CM Fadnavis posted on X calling the incident 'extremely heartbreaking,' paid tribute to the victims, and confirmed that the district administration had initiated relief and rescue operations on a war footing with five teams deployed.
Was there another road accident in Maharashtra on the same day?
Yes. Six people were killed and 26 injured in a separate multi-vehicle collision at Laling Ghat on the Mumbai-Agra Highway in Dhule. A dumper truck hit a standard truck, and a speeding bus from Madhya Pradesh then rammed into the wreckage; a toll employee assisting in rescue was among those killed.
