Pune: Two people, including a woman, died and four others suffered serious injuries after a van they were travelling in plunged into a 200ft-deep gorge at Pokhari Ghat on the Manchar-Bhimashankar road, about 75km from Pune.The accident occurred around 5pm on Wednesday.The Ghodegaon police identified the deceased as Dnyaneshwar Gawari (41), a resident of Dhagewadi, and Kalawati Bhojane (45), a resident of Bhojanewadi in Ambegaon taluka.The four injured passengers, including two women and two men, were initially taken to a govt hospital in Manchar and later shifted to a private hospital in Pune.An officer from the Ghodegaon police told TOI that the passengers were travelling from Dimbhe towards Bhimashankar when the accident occurred.“Prima facie investigations revealed that Gawari, who was driving the van, might have lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a sharp turn in the ghat section. The van plunged into the 200ft-deep gorge,” the officer said.Locals and police personnel rushed to the spot after receiving information about the accident. “We rescued the four injured passengers and sent them to a hospital,” the officer said.The Ghodegaon police are registering a case of accidental death, and further investigation is under way.
