Two residents of Rewa district died on Thursday afternoon after their motorcycle plunged into a roughly 200-foot gorge at the popular Kyonti (क्योंटी) waterfall, officials said. Rescue teams took about three hours to retrieve the victims' bodies from the steep, rocky ravine.

Immediate rescue response

According to police and rescue officials, the accident occurred in the early afternoon near Kyonti waterfall, a known local picnic spot in Rewa. The deceased were identified as 19-year-old Ayush Gautam (son of Anil Gautam) of Shigti and 23-year-old Santosh Patel (son of Rama Patel) of Chhattargarh, police said.

Local residents alerted authorities after seeing the motorcycle and signs of a crash at the waterfall edge. “We received the first call around midday and teams were dispatched immediately,” an officer at the Newagadhi police station said. The District Rescue Cell (DRC), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and police jointly launched the operation.

Difficult terrain hampered access

Initial reports indicate the bike went over the edge and both riders fell onto rocks far below, making immediate access hazardous. “They had struck the rocks in the ravine,” an SDRF team leader, Vikas Pandey, told reporters. Pandey said the team reached the site soon after notification and worked with police and DRC personnel to locate and recover the bodies.

The gorge’s steepness and loose rock made the operation slow and risky. Rescuers used ropes and technical gear to descend into the chasm, stabilise the site and bring the bodies up. The joint operation lasted about three hours before both victims were brought to the surface, officials said.

Sequence of events

• Midday: Locals noticed wreckage and alerted police.

• Within an hour: Police, DRC and SDRF teams arrived and assessed the scene.

• Next three hours: Technical recovery operation using ropes and climbing gear.

• Late afternoon: Bodies were recovered and taken to Rewa district hospital for post-mortem and further legal formalities.

Investigation under way

Police said a formal investigation has begun to establish the cause of the crash. “We are examining whether speed, road condition near the waterfall or rider error contributed to the fall,” a senior police official said. The motorcycle has been seized as evidence and witnesses from nearby shops and passersby are being questioned.

Autopsy and legal steps

The bodies were sent for post-mortem at Rewa District Hospital; results and cause-of-death details will be recorded in the subsequent police report. Local police confirmed that legal procedures, including filing of an accidental death report, were under way.

Safety concerns at Kyonti

Kyonti waterfall attracts visitors, especially on weekends and public holidays, because of its scenic drop and natural pools. Locals and authorities have repeatedly warned about steep edges, slippery rocks and lack of safety barriers at several viewpoints. This accident has prompted renewed calls for basic safety measures around the site.

Residents and visitors react

People who frequent the falls said crowds and two-wheelers parked dangerously close to the edge increase risks, particularly when roads are narrow and visibility is limited. “They come for selfies and sometimes park their bikes near the crest,” a shopkeeper near the site said. “There are no guardrails in many places; one wrong turn and you could go over.”

What happens next

Police said the probe will look into whether negligence or reckless driving played a role and whether authorities should install signage, barriers or restricted parking. The district administration did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment on the need for safety upgrades at Kyonti.

For now, the focus remains on completing medico-legal formalities and informing the families. Local leaders and community members said they would press officials to review safety at the waterfall to prevent similar tragedies.