Pune: Ruchika Seth, a 30-year-old PhD scholar from the center between universities for astronomy and astrophysics (IUCAA), fell to his death while trekking at Jivdhan’s fortress near Naneghat in Junnar Taluka, about 120 km from the city, on Wednesday afternoon.
Seth recently returned to his home place in New Delhi after completing the PhD from IUCAA and also secured a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Tartu, Estonia.
On July 31, Seth and his brother came to Mumbai through flights and he went to meet with a former friend of Bachelor IUUAA PhD now settled in Thane.
Both of them left for the track accompanied by two more friends, police said.
They reached the initial fortress on Wednesday and ride along the way.
Police Inspector Vikas Jadhav told Ti that the accident occurred when they descended the stairs of green passion where Seth slipped and fell into deep valleys.
His friends raised the alarm and made several local villagers to lift them.
He was taken to the Junnar Rural Hospital where the medical authority declared him dead, police said.
“His parents had been told about the tragedy and reached Pune on Wednesday night,” said Director IUCAA Sompon Raychaudhury.
“He is one of IUCCA’s favorite students and is very unfortunate to lose this way,” Raychaudhury said.
Junnar police have registered cases of unintentional deaths.