India, May 26 -- Eight young men died on Sunday after the SUV they were traveling in plunged into a deep gorge in the Ambenali Ghat section near Mahabaleshwar in Raigad district. The accident occurred around 5.30am on Sunday but police were informed only around 11.30pm, after family members of the deceased failed to reach them over the phone. Rescue efforts began on Sunday night itself, but stretched throughout the day on Monday due to the difficult terrain, confusion over the discovery of another accident-hit vehicle and the presence of bee hives near the spot where some bodies were located.

In a press note issued late at night on Monday, the Raigad police said all eight bodies had been retrieved during a 20-hour operation.

According t...