While the world watches a one-of-a-kind mission to rescue a youth soccer team trapped underground in a flooded Thailand cave, the metropolitan had to mount its own flood rescue to save 14 Santacruz teenagers, who were trapped at a Vasai waterfall on the weekend when the gush of water abruptly intensified, hemming them in with its intense undertow.
On Saturday around 11.30 am, the youngsters, aged 15-19, were enjoying the Chinchoti fall when, over a matter of seconds, water swallowed the rocks atop which they were balanced, leaving them hopping from crag to crag. "It was crowded so I jumped to the side," said Sachin N, part of the group.
"When I turned back, the rock from which I had jumped disappeared under heavy current of water." The group from Santacruz East had left for a picnic on Saturday.
As the boys scrambled for a safe spot, they tossed their bags and other belongings, clearing out space to stand on land.
"I saw a man" — Bhavesh Gupta, who could not be saved — "losing balance and being swept away. Their group was stranded closer to the fall," said Sachin.
The picnickers were rescued by a joint team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Air Force and Fire Brigade, which had to go through parts of the hills known to be populated by leopard and snakes.
The Air Force helicopter rescued five of Sachin's friends by the afternoon. It was getting dark towards early evening, which made it difficult for the helicopter to make the journey back. "I was was shivering and wrapped myself tight in my windcheater. We were really scared of what would happen next," said Aman Prajapati, 15. All their phones, except one, conked out.
Aman, Sachin and four others, Mohit Soni, Hrithik Soni, Sherwin Carvalho and Kumar Gowda, had to rappel their way out to safety over perilous water currents. It was 6pm by the time they made it down the stream where the current was tamer.
The group then had to trek and trudge through at least four peaks of Tungareshwar hills for the rest of the night. "We were afraid leopards and snakes might attack us," Aman said.
In the small hours of the night, the exhausted lot arrived in Thane, where they were offered food and water. Their parents had been informed by the time. When they finally reached home around 5.30am on Sunday, relieved sighs of relatives greeted them.
The boys, who belong to the same locality in Hanuman Tekdi, said they did not think a one-day outing would show them the face of death. "I am sure God loves us all. At one point we feared that we would not come out of it alive. We were stuck on a rock that was in the middle of the stream," said Hrithik Soni.
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 "Chinchoti waterfall")
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