Around 300 trekkers, including 100 women, were rescued from a forest in Malshej Ghat in a seven-hour operation on Saturday after they became stranded due to a rise in the Kalu River. Heavy rainfall, measuring 200mm in three hours, caused the river to swell, cutting off the trekkers' path back to safety.

The incident occurred at Waghachi Wadi, near the Kalyan-Ahilyanagar highway, about 150km from Pune city, on the Thane-Pune border. Most of the trekkers, who were from Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune, had arrived early in the morning and were unaware of the local conditions or the possibility of heavy showers.

The rescue operation began at 3 pm and continued until 10 pm. Officials from the Thane and Junnar forest divisions, along with local residents, participated in the effort. The state disaster management cell and district administrations were alerted after receiving calls for help.

Bhaskar Mengal, a 24-year-old local resident of Morushi village, was among the first to respond to the crisis. He swam through the gushing water to secure ropes and harnesses to trees. A zipline was then used to transport individuals across the river. Mengal calmed the scared tourists and first rescued the women, explaining how to use the zipline. Another villager, Kamlu Pokla, and forest guards later joined the rescue efforts.

Rajvardhan Bhosale, the range forest officer of Tokavade forest range in Thane district, said that the tourists had entered the restricted dense forest without consulting the villagers and were unaware of the local conditions.

Malshej Ghat has been experiencing intense rainfall for the past few days, causing a sudden increase in the water level of the Kalu River, which is a popular monsoon tourist spot. Despite warnings from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Forest Department, people continue to visit the area and venture into dangerous areas.

In a similar incident, 40 to 50 tourists were trapped near the flooded Kalu Waterfall in the Malshej Ghat area on Saturday evening. The police administration, local rescue teams, and forest officials swiftly responded and evacuated all stranded individuals without any casualties. The rescue operation was challenging due to slippery terrain and continuous rainfall. Dramatic scenes of the rescue were captured on camera, showing officials using cables to rescue tourists.

The Kalu Waterfall trek is generally considered easy and suitable for beginners, but it can be risky during the monsoon season due to slippery paths. It involves crossing the Kalu River, which can have a very high flow of water. Local villagers often set up ropes and ziplines for river crossing and charge a fee. It is advised not to attempt to cross the river without their help or a local guide.