Pune: Despite a prohibition on climbing the cliffs above the three waterfalls near the Sahara Bridge on the Bhushi Dam route in Lonavala, 12 tourists were found risking their lives by ignoring the ban. The Forest Department and Lonavala City Police took action against these individuals.

Following an accident at Bhushi Dam, the Pune District Collector had issued an order 15 days ago restricting access to dangerous tourist spots, including the area above the waterfalls near Sahara Bridge.

Police and forest officials regularly inform tourists about these restrictions. However, many enthusiastic tourists disregard the warnings, leading the police and forest department to take direct action against them under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

On Sunday (July 14) morning, Lonavala City Police Inspector Suhas Jagtap and Forest Ranger Sagar Chutke, along with female police officer Patil, Constable Pawan Karad, and Constable Rais Mulani, were on duty monitoring the area.

Around noon, tourists were spotted on the cliff area above the waterfalls and near Ghuba Lake, ignoring the prohibition. These tourists were detained, and action was taken against them under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

The Forest Department's Sandeep Ramgude filed a complaint against the individuals identified as Sudharm Nitin Shete, Harsh Santosh Pandit (both from Bhilar, Mahabaleshwar, Satara), Dinanath Surendra Paswan (Charcopmay Koliwada, Kandivali West, Mumbai),

Lavkush Sohanlal Gupta, Ravikumar Bablukumar Gautam (Digeshwar, Kandivali West, Mumbai), Rishikesh Shridharrao Salunke (near Jangad Kirana Shop, Dattnagar, Beed), Tanmay Ajay Telwene (Bedwada, Murbad, Mumbai),

Hariom Ghanshyam Paswan, Ganesh Mahadev Paswan, Guddu Raju Paswan, Dharmendra Bhulai Paswan, and Kisan alias Krishkumar Balkaram Paswan (all from Gurukul Colony, Kalewadi, Pune).

Further investigation is being conducted by Police Officer Shakeel Sheikh.