July 30, 2025:
In a tragic incident, two engineering students from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) drowned after being swept away by a stream near the Bheru Kho waterfall in Sehore district on Sunday afternoon. The students were part of a group on a picnic when the accident occurred near the Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary.
According to police reports, the victims were identified as final-year students visiting the region over the weekend. While exploring the waterfall area, the two ventured too close to a stream swollen due to recent rainfall. They lost balance and were pulled in by the strong current. Despite the immediate alert raised by their friends, the force of the water made any rescue attempt impossible at the time.
Local authorities, including the Sehore police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), launched a search operation on Sunday evening. However, the effort was suspended after nightfall due to darkness and increased water flow, which posed a risk to rescue teams.
Search operations resumed early Monday morning, and both bodies were recovered by noon. The remains were sent for post-mortem at the district hospital in Sehore. The families of the deceased have been informed, and necessary arrangements are being made for transporting the bodies to their hometowns.
Speaking to the media, Sehore Collector Praveen Singh confirmed the details of the incident and urged tourists to observe extreme caution in such locations, especially during the monsoon season. “Streams and waterfalls in this area swell rapidly and can be deceptively dangerous. We appeal to all visitors to remain vigilant and follow safety guidelines while visiting natural sites,” he said.
The Bheru Kho waterfall, located near the ecologically sensitive Kheoni Sanctuary, is a popular tourist spot but lacks adequate safety infrastructure such as guardrails or signage warning of strong currents. Local officials acknowledged the need for increased safety measures in the area following the incident.
The deaths have sparked grief and concern among the student community at VIT and raised questions about the safety of young tourists visiting offbeat and potentially hazardous locations during seasonal weather surges.
This marks the second such incident in the region within a year, highlighting the pressing need for stronger public awareness campaigns and safety protocols around natural tourist attractions.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to reviewing security arrangements at popular spots in Sehore and nearby districts and are considering deploying warning systems and trained personnel during peak tourist periods.
