Parents of Advaitha Verma, who drowned in Pavana dam, serve notice to state govt, seek compensation

Advaitha’s Uncle, Suresh Verma, a Delhi based lawyer said ,“There were no danger boards or signs barring tourists from entering the Pavana waters, so blaming the kids for going to a popular tourist spot makes absolutely no sense.”

“On July 23rd, the legal notice was sent through local lawyer Nitin Kamble to the government, focusing on the negligence and safety loopholes. Prevention is better than cure, and it’s the government’s job to look into it,” added Suresh Verma.

The serene surrounding of Pavana Dam, located amidst the greens of Lonavala, have been marred by a series of drownings in the recent past.

The latest incidents involve the losses of 20-year-old Manish Shankar Sharma in January, 25-year-old Mayank Akhilesh Upadhyay in February, 18-year-old Advaitha Verma in June and 28-year-old Sagar Kailas Sathe in July, all succumbing to the waters of the reservoir.

“Reverting to the notice, the government might say that we can’t guard an open space but it’s important that they set up safety offices with trained individuals and necessary amenities like life jackets and boats, considering it is such a popular tourist spot, far from a nearby police station,” said Nitin Kamble, pune based lawyer for Advaitha Verma Case.

The Verma family now seeks compensation and plans to raise awareness.

Monica Budki, relative and local guardian to Advaitha says,“ If only I knew he was planning a trip to Pavana, I would have warned him about the past incidents.”

She said, ” His friend from the trip told us that the water level rose out of the blue. The possibility is that they released the dam water without proper surveillance which resulted in the sudden rise in the lake water.”