Pune: Two siblings drowned on Sunday in the backwaters of the Gunjavani dam in Ghevhande village in Rajgad taluka, about 46km from the city.Police identified the deceased as Damaji Gaikwad (50) and Dattu Gaikwad (55), both residents of Ghevhande village.“The incident occurred when Dattu lost his balance while placing a water pump into the water and began to drown. His younger brother, Damaji, jumped in to rescue him, but both drowned,” said assistant inspector Kishore Shevate, in charge of the Velhe police station.Shevate said the Gaikwad brothers were farmers.After receiving information about the incident, disaster management teams from Rajgad and Haveli reached the spot and began search operations. Damaji was located and pulled out of the water, but doctors declared him dead.“The teams searched for his elder brother until late at night, but without success. We resumed the search operation on Monday morning and recovered Dattu’s body,” the officer said.He added that Damaji was a former sarpanch of Ghevhande village. “We have registered a case of accidental death and are investigating the matter from all angles,” he said.
