5 killed, two injured as speeding car plunges into river in Maharashtra

The car plunged into the Jagbudi River in Ratnagiri

Mumbai: Five persons, who were heading to attend a funeral, died after the car in which they were travelling fell into a dry riverbed of the Jagbudi River in the Khed area of Ratnagiri district of the coastal Konkan belt of Maharashtra.

The deceased were identified as Mitali Vivek More (43), Megha Paradkar (22), Saurabh Paradkar (22), Nihar More (19) and Shreyas Sawant (23).

The car was heading on the Mumbai-Goa Highway towards Devrukh town from Nallasopara in Palghar district.

The car plunged 100 metres down and hit the riverbed.

The cause of the accident was not immediately known.

One traveller -- identified as Vivek More (47) -- miraculously survived, besides Parmesh Paradkar, who was behind the wheels.

The victims were on their way to attend the funeral of Vivek More's father-in-law, Mohan Chalke.

Soon after the accident, a major rescue operation was launched by the local administration.

The Khed police station is investigating the accident.