Pune: A 28-year-old seminarian from Kerala, Rev Bro Abraham Shince Edathara, who died after falling into a gorge during a picnic to Visapur Fort near Lonavala, was laid to rest at the Bethany Ashram in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. Shince, a native of Mudiyoorkonam in Pandalam, Pathanamthitta, was a subdeacon with the Order of the Imitation of Christ and a member of the Bethany Navajeevan Province.

The incident happened around noon on Saturday while Shince was on an outing with his classmates from the seminary in Vimannagar, Pune, where he was pursuing his third year of Theology. He was expected to be ordained in 2027.

According to his cousin Robin, the family was informed of the incident by 3 pm on Saturday. Despite a prompt rescue operation, Shince was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. His body was brought home by 7 am on Monday, followed by a public viewing and burial.

Shince had joined the seminary in 2018 after completing a BTech in Mechanical Engineering from Mar Baselios College of Engineering and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram. He had visited home just two months ago.

The Shivdurga Rescue Team from Lonavala retrieved his body from the gorge. Officials told The Times of India that the group was trekking via the Bhaje Caves route, one of the region’s most challenging trails, which had become slippery due to rain. "He slipped from the top of a hilly portion and suffered a fatal head injury after hitting a rock," Robin said.

Lonavala Rural Police have registered a case, stating that the area's multiple access points pose challenges in restricting tourist entry, especially during the monsoon. Authorities have temporarily closed several spots due to safety concerns.

Lonavala, a popular hill station near Pune, has witnessed several fatal accidents in recent years. In 2022, a 26-year-old trekker died during a rock-climbing event at Tail Baila Fort. More recently, in June 2024, five members of a family were swept away at a waterfall near Bhushi Dam, and in July in 2024, travel influencer Aanvi Kamdar died after falling into a gorge while filming at Kumbhe waterfalls in Maharashtra's Raigad district.