70 picnickers stranded at Goa waterfall after rain rescued

VALPOI: Around 70 picnickers, who had been to the Pali waterfall in Thane-Sattari in Goa on Sunday, were left stranded after heavy rainfall led to sudden rise in water levels.
They were brought to safety in two batches after teams of police, emergency services and forest department were roped in to help in rescue operations.
The incident became a grim reminder of the recent tragedy in Lonavala - where a family of seven was swept away by a raging waterfall -as sudden rise in the water level at Pali made it difficult for the picnickers to come out.They were pulled out from water with the help of ropes and brought to safe ground through alternative routes.
The picnickers were rescued in groups of 40 and later 30, SP (North Goa) Akshat Kaushal said.
Following heavy rainfall, the forest department had banned entry to all waterfalls, but low-intensity ones were later opened to visitors due to pressure from those making a livelihood by selling eatables at waterfall sites.
Thousands of revellers from all over Goa and neighbouring states visit Sattari for weekend picnics during the monsoon, as seasonal falls come alive.