Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Three of nine friends who visited the Tembhapuri dam on May 1 to beat the heat drowned around 2.30 pm on Friday.
The deceased Shailesh Jogdand (25, Parbhani), Shailesh Helaskar (30, Nanded) and Avishkar Lokhande (25, Nanded) were residing in Ranjangaon Shenpunji, Waluj MIDC. Police said the group, employees of a Waluj company, had gone to the dam on the Maharashtra Day holiday. Three entered the water but misjudged its depth and the presence of deep pits, and began drowning. Despite alerts raised by friends on the bank, they disappeared under the water. Waluj police inspector Shivcharan Pandhare, sub-inspector Ajay Shitole and fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot. With local help, the bodies were retrieved and sent to Ghati Hospital, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, for post-mortem.
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Second incident in a week
Villagers allege large-scale illegal excavation has created deep, silt-filled craters that act as death traps. On April 26, 19-year-old Prince Shrisundar from Chhavani had also drowned at the same dam, raising serious safety concerns.
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Meetings, but no action
Residents said multiple administrative meetings were held over the hazardous pits, and repeated complaints were made about rising craters, stagnant water and risk to life. However, no concrete action followed, fuelling public anger. Locals have accused some officials of tacitly supporting illegal excavation. “Assurances and meetings are not enough; strict action is needed,” they said. Last rites of Jogdand and Helaskar were held in Ranjangaon on Saturday, while Lokhande’s body was taken to Nanded for funeral rites. “An in-depth inquiry into the illegal excavation at the Tembhapuri medium project will be conducted and appropriate action taken,” said Prashant Sant, Executive Engineer, Nandur Madhmeshwar.
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Video sparks outrage
A video showing the youths struggling in the water and friends attempting rescue has surfaced, intensifying public outrage and demands for immediate action against illegal excavation at the dam.