Pune: In a tragic incident that has cast a shadow over the festive atmosphere, a father and son drowned while immersing their household Ganpati idol in Kadhe village, Maval.

The incident occurred on Thursday (September 12) evening, around 6 PM, when 45-year-old Sanjay Dhondu Shirke and his 20-year-old son, Harshal Sanjay Shirke, both residents of Kadhe, attempted to immerse their idol in a water-filled pit near their home. The pit, filled with water from past excavation, proved deadly for the duo.

According to local police, the Shirke family had taken their household Ganpati idol for immersion to a nearby water body that had formed in an excavated area.

During the immersion, Harshal began to struggle in the water and started drowning. In a desperate attempt to save his son, Sanjay Shirke immediately jumped in, but unfortunately, both were unable to make it out of the water.

As soon as the Kamshet police were alerted, they rushed to the scene, accompanied by a local rescue team from Shivdurg Mitra, Lonavala. The rescue operation continued into the night, and by late evening, the bodies of both Sanjay and Harshal were recovered.

The tragic death of the father and son has left the Shirke family in deep mourning. What was supposed to be a time of celebration has turned into an unimaginable loss for them.