Yet another waterfall has proved fatal for a promising youngster in Maharashtra this monsoon season. On Wednesday, Aanvi Kamdar, a 27-year-old Instagram star who was on a monsoon outing with her friends, died while shooting a video after she slipped into a 300-ft deep gorge near the renowned Kumbhe waterfall at Mangaon in Raigad. This is just weeks after a family of five, including two minors, drowned while visiting a waterfall at Lonavala's Bhushi Dam. A 38-year-old trekker was also swept away to death after he jumped into the Tamhini Ghat waterfall earlier this month.
Who was Aanvi Kamdar?
Aanvi was not a novice to monsoon trips. A chartered accountant - cum influencer, her online page showcases her passion for travelling and featured videos from many monsoon tourism spots. In her latest post, she shared five places to visit during the monsoon season. Last month, she also recommended Maharashtra as the top monsoon spot in the country, mentioning offbeat locations like Bhadardara and Gangapur.
While visiting Maharashtra's falls...
Maharashtra has many tempting waterfalls that grow to their glory in the monsoon season. However, before visiting them this season, make sure you do the following safety checks:
1) Stay updated on the weather forecast of the region of your tour location. In case of heavy rainfalls or storms, postpone the trip to a safer time.
2) Do not venture into treacherous waters or terrains with potential gorges which might not look dangerous at the outset. Also, do not climb on slippery rocks or walk on muddy terrains while at the location.
3) Flash floods are a common phenomenon at many of the falls, make sure that you are standing at a spot from which you can quickly run to safety in case of such an event.
4) The roads to many falls are prone to landslips and landslides. Go with drivers who are familiar with the route, alternate routes, safety exits and sources of help.
5) Follow local advisories and the latest instructions from authorities to stay safe.