Pune: Man Dies After Collapsing During Rajgad Fort Trek, Suspected Cardiac Arrest
A 35-year-old Pune resident, Jidhnesh Sadashiv Khandalkar, died after collapsing during a trek to Rajgad fort on Saturday afternoon due to a suspected cardiac arrest. Despite emergency CPR by fellow trekkers, ASI staff, and locals along the Pal Budruk route, he was declared dead at Velhe rural hospital. Velhe police have registered an accidental death case.
A 35-year-old Pune resident died after collapsing while trekking to Rajgad fort in Pune district on Saturday afternoon, with a suspected cardiac arrest believed to be the cause of death. The deceased, identified as Jidhnesh Sadashiv Khandalkar, originally from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, lived in Bhekrai Nagar, Hadapsar.
He had visited the historic fort along with two friends and was trekking along the Pal Budruk route when he reportedly felt dizzy and collapsed near the entrance area, Pune Mirror reported. The sudden medical emergency prompted immediate rescue attempts from companions and locals along the steep hillside trail.
Emergency CPR and Joint Rescue Efforts at the Fort
According to Pune rural police, Jidhnesh’s friends, fellow trekkers and other people present at the fort rushed to help him. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) personnel Vishal Pilaware and Deepak Pilaware; local residents Shankar Rasal, Akash Jadhav and Lahu Kharat; and employees of the electricity distribution department also joined the rescue efforts.
Those present attempted to revive him, including through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but he did not respond.
Stretcher Evacuation and Hospital Declaration
Jidhnesh was subsequently brought down from the fort on a stretcher and taken to Velhe rural hospital, where doctors declared him dead before treatment could begin.
His body was then sent to Sassoon General Hospital (SGH) for a postmortem examination to establish the cause of death. After the postmortem at Sassoon, the body was handed over to the family.
Police Register Accidental Death Case
Kishor Shewte, police inspector in charge of Velhe police station, said, “Three youths from Pune had visited Rajgad fort. While climbing via the Pal Budruk route, one of them suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed. Despite efforts by people present at the fort to revive him, he could not be saved. The body has been sent for a postmortem examination, and an accidental death case has been registered at Velhe police station.”
Rajgad fort, located in the Sahyadri range approximately 60 kilometres southwest of Pune, is a popular trekking destination that features demanding uphill ascents, where local authorities routinely advise visitors to monitor physical endurance and carry adequate hydration.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 12, 2026 06:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
