Lonavala Trekking Tragedy: Navi Mumbai Law Student Found Dead In Gorge At Tiger Point

Shreya Narendra Patil, a 20-year-old law student from Navi Mumbai, who was reported missing after she visited Lonavala on January 30, was found dead in a 400-feet-deep gorge at Pune’s Tiger Point on Sunday.
The Pune Rural Police have launched a probe into the sequence of events leading to the death.

Who is Shreya Narendra Patil?

She was pursuing her law degree at BITS Law School located in Kalyan, Thane.

What happened on Sunday?

Shreya, a resident of CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai, had travelled to Lonavala for a solo trek. The search was initiated after her abandoned bag — containing her mobile phone, laptop, and identification documents — was found near a roadside stall.

Where is Tiger Point?

Tiger Point (also known as Tiger’s Leap) is a prominent clifftop viewpoint in Lonavala, Maharashtra, standing at an elevation of over

650 metres. It is named for its unique cliff shape that resembles a tiger leaping into the valley. Tiger Point is located approximately 8–12 km from Lonavala city centre on the road toward Aamby Valley. It is free to the public and open for 24 hours daily, though it is best visited between 6:00 AM and 7:00 PM for visibility and safety. It offers sweeping vistas of the Sahyadri ranges, lush valleys, and (on clear days) as far as Pune. It is popular for trekking and hiking trails, including the nearby Duke’s Nose trail.

The search operation

The breakthrough came when the Pune Rural Police dog squad was deployed. A sniffer dog named ‘Durga’ successfully traced Shreya’s scent from a handkerchief found in her bag, leading rescuers directly to the edge of the gorge.

Police and volunteer team

Apart from sniffer dog ‘Durga’, multiple drones were deployed to scan the rugged and inaccessible valley terrain. Lighting drones were also used to maintain visibility as evening approached.
Shivdurg Rescue Team assisted police in the physically demanding task of rappelling into the 400-foot deep gorge to recover the body.
Police and family members conducted initial inquiries at tourist spots like Duke’s Nose, where she was last seen traveling by rickshaw toward Tiger Point.

Accidental death case

Her brother identified the body at the Talegaon Dabhade Primary Health Centre.
The Lonavala Rural Police have registered a case of accidental death.
Authorities are conducting further investigations to determine the exact circumstances of the fall—specifically whether it was an accident, suicide, or involved any foul play.