Two tourists die as they imitate the ’Baahubali jump’ at Mahuli waterfall

Mumbai Mirror

Mumbai: As Mumbaikars flock to the various forts and waterfalls that dot the wilderness on the outskirts of the city and come alive during monsoon, police are having sleepless nights over the waterfall at Mahuli fort in Shahapur.

 

Inspired by what the Shahapur police believe is the jump from the movie Baahubali, several people have climbed up on a higher level at the waterfall and leapt into the gushing water below. This has lead to several injuries, and in certain cases, deaths.

 

One such case is of Bhiwandibased businessman Indrapal Patil, 27, who visited Mahuli with his friends on July 14. According to his brother, Mahendra, Indrapal had gone to Mahuli fort with his friends. "We were informed by the police that he fell from a height and died. It was shocking for all of us, even more so for his wife," recalled Mahendra, speaking from his residence in Amne village, near Bhiwandi.

 

According to Shahapur police, incidents such as these have become too frequent, especially during monsoon. "Eyewitnesses informed that the deceased jumped - rather than fell - from a height, tried to land on his feet, missed and went underwater. His friends got him out," said PI BH Pawar of Shahapur police station. "It appears that these leaps are inspired by the jump in the movie Baahubali," he added.

 

The Patils, however, claim that this was no foolhardy stunt. "My brother was pushed. It must have either been a planned attack, or someone might have accidentally or playfully pushed him," Mahendra alleged.

 

However, this is not the only such incident. "Inebriated or sober, men have a tendency to perform stunts. The climb itself is so rough that one wrong step can throw them tumbling down," said senior PI Mahesh Shetye of Shahapur police station.

 

According to Shetye, there have been two cases of accidental deaths registered in the past two weeks, and at least one injury emerges every twothree days. "Every year during monsoon, we have our hands full with these incidents. Last month a man died of a heart attack while he was trying to climb up to the waterfall’s source," Shetye said.

 

The Shahapur police have written to the forest department about the problem. "We have done everything, from trying to make people aware to deploying police bandobast. The youngsters find a way of creeping past us. We have written to the forest department to shut the gates that lead to the waterfall," Shetye said.

 

Even though the spot is a prime tourist location, Shahapur police is going to make it a no-entry zone. "We can’t let anyone come to the area, as we don’t know who will try to imitate the ’Baahubali jump’. We prefer people missing out on enjoying nature’s beauty, than people leaping to their deaths," Pawar said.