Pune Techie Dies After Falling from 30-Feet Zipline Tower: Negligence Probe Launched
Pune, April 22, 2025: A 28-year-old IT professional, Taral Arun Atpalkar, tragically lost her life after falling from a 30-foot zipline launch tower at Rajgad Water Park Resort in Varve village, Bhor taluka — around 30 km from Pune. The incident occurred around 5:50 PM on April 18, while she was preparing to begin the zipline ride.
According to officials from Rajgad police station under Pune Rural police, Taral, a resident of Dhayari, Pune, had visited the adventure park with her relatives. During the zipline setup, she reportedly climbed a stool to adjust the harness rope — which was not of sufficient length — when she lost balance and fell, sustaining fatal injuries. Authorities say the stool became unstable, and she hit a railing before falling to the ground.
Assistant Inspector Tukaram Rathod, who is investigating the case, said, “Initial findings suggest that inadequate safety measures — such as lack of proper harness length and absence of safety nets — contributed to the incident. A proper structure and equipment could have averted this tragedy.”
On April 21, the Pune Rural police booked seven individuals, including the owner, operator, and manager of the park, under charges of causing death due to negligence and endangering life. Those named in the FIR include manager Anil Jadhav, adventure manager Dilip Gosavi, and staffers Vishal Kumar, Shriramesh Kumar, and Swapnil Diwale. Names of the resort’s owner and operator will be added after reviewing official documents.
While the police suggest negligence, the park management has claimed the victim removed her helmet to take selfies, leaning against a safety barricade that collapsed under the weight of three people. “She lost her balance and fell to the side of the platform where no safety nets were installed,” said Gosavi. He added that their attendant managed to save the other two women who were with her.
Hemant Sonawane, the owner of Rajgad Water Park, stated that the adventure section began in 2018 and has had no previous incidents. “We ensure all safety protocols are followed, and all staff members are trained with valid adventure sport licenses,” he said.
Despite these claims, the police are continuing their probe to determine the exact cause and accountability in Taral’s death. The case has triggered renewed concerns over safety regulations at adventure parks, especially during the peak summer season when visitor numbers are high.
