Pune: A tragic incident took place on Saturday (March 22) afternoon near Viman Nagar, Pune, when a 16-year-old boy drowned while swimming in a quarry. Another boy, who was also at risk of drowning, was saved in time.
The deceased has been identified as Saurabh Sanjay Bodak (16), a resident of MHADA Colony, Viman Nagar. According to police reports, Saurabh and his four friends had gone swimming in a stone quarry near Lohegaon Airport around 2:30 PM.
Since Saurabh was not a skilled swimmer, he attempted to stay afloat using a thermocol sheet along with another friend. However, they lost their balance and slipped into deep water. While one of them was rescued in time, Saurabh drowned before help could reach him.
Rescue Operations and Investigation
A rescue operation was launched by the Dhanori fire brigade team, and after two hours, Saurabh’s body was recovered from the water. He was immediately taken to Sassoon Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
The stone quarry near Lohegaon International Airport has been the site of multiple drowning incidents in the past. The Indian Air Force (IAF) had built a high boundary wall around the quarry to prevent accidents. However, an open access point from the Kalwad side still allows entry, which the group of boys may have used to reach the quarry.
Saurabh’s sudden death has left his family in deep grief, and the entire community has expressed sorrow over the incident. Meanwhile, Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Dhamane confirmed that an official complaint is in the process of being registered regarding the accident.