A 27-year-old youth from Beed, Balu Rambhau Mule, drowned in the Godavari River at Ramkund in Nashik on Tuesday night while visiting the city with his family. His body was recovered around 2pm on Wednesday by the fire brigade, after a day-long search operation. It was found entangled in water hyacinth near the riverbed in the Kevadiban area. A case of accidental death has been registered at the Panchavati Police Station.
Balu, a resident of Radi in Ambejogai taluka of Beed district, had come to Nashik with his family for a two-day pilgrimage. On Tuesday, the family visited Vani and Trimbakeshwar, and later reached Ramkund in Panchavati around 7pm. After participating in the Goda Aarti at Baneshwar temple between 7:30pm and 8pm, they lit lamps and placed them in the water.
While performing the ritual, Balu reportedly slipped from the river steps and was swept away by the strong water current. His family members immediately raised an alarm. However, due to darkness, the initial rescue efforts had to be halted.
Search operations resumed the next day with the coordination of Mahesh Shelke in Nashik, following intervention by Ashti MLA Suresh Dhas.
The incident occurred amid increased water release from the Gangapur Dam—1,000 cusecs of water is being discharged in phases until May 10–11 for agricultural use and the Eklahare Thermal Power Station. This has led to a significant rise in both water levels and flow in the Godavari, unusual for the summer season.
Along with the increased flow, large volumes of water hyacinth are also being washed downstream. According to Godavari activist Devang Jani, the uncontrolled spread of water hyacinth has created hazardous conditions. “The High Court's orders on river conservation have not been followed. For ten years, the development committees have only made empty promises. The river and people have both been deceived,” he said.
Jani criticised the Nashik Municipal Corporation for not deploying its skimmer and robotic machines to remove the hyacinth earlier. “Now lives are at risk due to this negligence. It's time for people to wake up,” he added.
