Cops rescue 117 picnickers stranded on hill in Mumbai

According to police, the picnikers managed to wade through a shallow stream in the morning. However, by afternoon, the shallow stream had swelled into a fast-moving river making it impossible for the picnickers to cross over to go home. Both the police and fire brigade organized the two-hour-long operation and rescued the stranded late on Sunday.

Mumbai (Maharashtra):The Navi Mumbai police and fire brigade rescued at least 117 picnickers who were stranded at Pandavakada waterfall in Kharghar as heavy rains lash the state, police said. Locals had gone for a picnic in Kharghar's lush green hills streaming with several big and small waterfalls.

According to Kharghar police station senior police inspector S. Mali, the picnikers managed to wade through a shallow stream in the morning. However, by afternoon, the shallow stream had swelled into a fast-moving river making it impossible for the picnickers to cross over to go home.

Panicking, they made frantic calls to the police and fire brigade, who soon organized the two-hour-long rescue operation late on Sunday.

Since last month, the state police have banned entry to the Pandavkada waterfalls in Kharghar, and other local popular hill picnic destinations, owing to several tragic incidents that have occurred in the past.

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