Trekker dies in rappelling expedition in Ahmednagar

Sawant, a resident of Goregaon in Mumbai, was attempting to fix rope to a cliff to climb when he fell in the Konkan Kada area. The Harishchandragad fort is located at a height of 4,670 feet and the Konkan Kada rappelling expedition stretches for 1,800 feet.

“On Saturday around 5.30 pm, when he was preparing for the rappelling session for other trekkers, he fell off a cliff. The members of group then informed local villagers and police. Search and rescue teams — one from Ahmednagar and one from Lonavala — were called. His body was recovered from 550 feet under the point he had fallen from on Sunday noon,” said Constable Bharat Nanavare from Tokawade police station, who had reached the spot along with the rescue teams. While Harishchandragad is in Ahmednagar district, the area where the accident took place falls in Thane district.

Nanavare said, “His family members has already been contacted. His body was brought to the village located at the foothills of the fort on Sunday evening. We will talk to the group members about what exactly happened. The rescue teams also helped other trekkers get down safely.”

Senior mountaineer Umesh Zirpe of Pune-based Giripremi group, said, “Arun Sawant was a highly skilled rock climber and mountaineer. He was a pioneer of many difficult rock climbing and trekking expedition in the Western Ghats. He had discovered several new trekking and climbing routes in Sahyadris. Above all, he will be remembered for his extensive exploration of caves. This is great a loss to mountaineering fraternity.”

Sawant, who finished his education from Lala Lajpat Rai college, had pursued photography as a freelancer for some time. His social media profile states he worked with MTNL. He had been trekking for the last 35 years.

— With ENS Mumbai