Navi Mumbai: A Khopoli resident, Amol Kadam, swam about 150 metres in the opposite direction to Patalganga river water flow to rescue a 26-year-old cognitively impaired Parbhani youth on Friday. He was swept away for about 500 metres in the river water. He luckily survived in the water without drowning while being continuously swept away downstream for about half an hour.Kadam was assisted by Mahesh Bhosale and Imran Shaikh in the rescue operation. The youth had been missing since June 2, 2026 this year. The incident was reported around Wasrang stretch of the river. A woman washing clothes on the river bank had seen him being swept away and alerted others. The search operation was stretched along a kilometre of the river.The youth had walked about 2 km from Khopoli suburban station to the river bank. Some claimed that he had entered the water to catch fishes. However, Khopoli police attributed the incident to an accidental slip resulting in his falling into the river.In the flowing water, the victim somehow managed to catch hold of trees and surfaces wherever available, but the water current kept pushing him downstream. The youth was found near IOC bridge before being safely pulled out.Later, he was handed over to Khopoli police. Police inspector Sachin Hire said, “The cognitively impaired man had left his home. His brother is employed in Taloja MIDC area. His father from Parbhani arrived to take him back. A missing complaint has been filed in a Parbhani district police station.”
