PUNE: A freak incident of animal attack has come to light at Warghad in the Panshet Dam Valley area wherein an autorickshaw ferrying devotees was attacked by a wild boar. The attack resulted in one of the devotees dying on the spot while the other three, including the driver are said to be critically injured. This incident took place on Friday around half past midnight.

The deceased victim has been identified as Bhaguji Dhau Margale (60), a resident of Nasrapur, Velhe and a native of Shirkoli. While the injured victims have been identified as Pandurang Dhau Margale (45), a resident of Shirkoli, and a native of Donje, Ashok Baban Margale (31), a resident of Shirkoli, and the autorickshaw driver Suresh Kondiba Dhebe (30), a resident of Pole, Velhe, is said to be critical. 

The impact was so severe that the autorickshaw flipped over thrice before rolling into a 400-feet-deep ravine.  In this accident, one devotee was killed on the spot and three persons, including the autorickshaw driver, are injured. The latter is said to be critical.

According to the information received, the deceased Margale along with his cousin and nephew were en route to paying homage to the Lord on Friday around half past midnight.

The quartet was travelling slowly on the top of the hill, on a dirt road in the Velhe-Kadave Pass near Panshet Dam that leads to the Jogaba Shrine at Warghad. Suddenly, a wild boar appeared from nowhere and charged down the road and rammed hard into the autorickshaw.  

The impact was so severe that the autorickshaw flipped over thrice before rolling into a 400-feet-deep ravine.  In this accident, one devotee was killed on the spot and three persons, including the autorickshaw driver, are injured. The latter is said to be critical.

Apparently, Bhaguji Dhau Margale, who was sitting upfront with the driver, was thrown headlong into the deep ravine, hit his head and died on the spot. The driver Suresh Dhebe was critically injured in the fall. While the other two occupants Pandurang Dhau Margale and

Ashok Baban Margale jumped out of the vehicle. The duo managed to find shelter in the ravine till help arrived. The rescue team safely managed to extract them from the said gorge. 

As soon as the Velhe Police received information about the incident, they rushed to the site and quickly swung into action to organise help with the assistance of a rescue team. Under the supervision of Tanaji Bhosle, the rescue team began their operation around midnight. They descended into the deep gorge with the help of ropes and pulleys. After tireless efforts, they managed to extract the dead and injured persons. 

However, at the time of filing this story, no report has been filed by the Velhe Police and the police are conducting a further, in-depth investigation about the incident.