Pune: A heartbreaking incident unfolded in the Garmal area of Wadgaon Dhayari on Monday (September 16) afternoon when a 10-year-old boy, Rohan Survase, tragically drowned in a canal while trying to retrieve a cricket ball.

The tragedy occurred when Rohan, along with his two friends, Sairaj Jedhe and Ayan Nasir Sheikh, were playing cricket near the canal. During the game, the ball accidentally fell into the water, prompting Rohan and one of his friends to enter the canal in an attempt to retrieve it.

Unaware of the danger, both boys were caught in the powerful current. Despite their efforts to stay afloat, they were quickly swept away by the water.

The third boy, who remained on the bank, panicked and began screaming for help. His cries caught the attention of a passerby, 18-year-old Prajwal Deepak Jawanjal, who without hesitation or regard for his own safety, immediately leaped into the water.

Jawanjal managed to pull one of the drowning boys to safety, a courageous act that likely saved a life. Tragically, by the time he reached for Rohan, the boy had been carried further into the center of the canal and disappeared under the water.

Upon receiving the alert, Senior Inspector Raghavendrasinh Kshirsagar and Assistant Inspector Rahul Yadav from the Sinhagad Road Police Station, along with a team of officers, quickly reached the site. They immediately called in the fire department to aid in the search and rescue operation.

A coordinated effort led by Prakash Gore, the head of the Navale Fire Brigade, along with his team, tried every possible measure to locate Rohan. Ropes were cast into the canal, and brave divers searched the water, but their efforts were in vain as the boy’s body remained missing by nightfall.

A particularly poignant moment in the rescue effort was when off-duty officer Ramesh Chavan, who happened to be nearby, joined the search upon seeing the situation. Though not on duty, he fulfilled his moral obligation to assist, showcasing the dedication of local authorities.

Rohan's mother, overwhelmed by grief, was inconsolable upon learning of her son’s death. The family, struggling with severe financial hardship, had only recently moved to Pune from their village in search of better opportunities.

Rohan’s father, Prakash, works as an operator on heavy machinery, while his mother supplements their income by doing household work.