30-year-old Pune resident drowns in Mahabaleshwar’s Venna lake

Rite, who was working with a private firm in Hadapsar, was on holiday with three friends. They consumed alcohol and went paddle-boating in the lake

A 30-year-old from Hadapsar, Pune, is suspected of having drowned in the Venna lake in Mahabaleshwar on Wednesday.

Mahesh Dadasaheb Rite, a resident of Hadapsar, Pune drowned in Venna lake on Wednesday. (HT/PHOTO)

Police have identified the missing person as Mahesh Dadasaheb Rite. Rite’s body has not yet been recovered by the search and rescue teams.

A case of accidental death has been lodged at the Mahabaleshwar police station.

Rite, who was working with a private firm in Hadapsar, was on holiday with three friends. On Tuesday they visited Satara and by noon, reached Mahabaleshwar.

According to Satara police, all four, Yuvraj Metre 32; Ahmed Sheikh, 36; and Wasim Sheikh, 30; along with Rite, consumed alcohol and then went paddle-boating in the lake. While on the lake the group decided to jump into the water for a swim.

Police inspector BA Kondubhairi of Mahabaleshwar police station said , "Prima facie, all were drunk and then decided to swim. One of them drowned.Search operations were on till the evening, then, due to lack of daylight, we stopped.”