The Accident Zone:
Saturday Night: 11.30pm. 30/05/2009.
Place: Makarand’s Home, Dadar.
For what: Five people waiting for a vehicle to arrive… A climbing event was planned next day (Destination: Telbaila near Lonavala…to be precise near Amby Valley).
Finally we left from my home at 12.10 midnight. What a leisure time it was. We got an Innova that night. I still remember my old days of trekking when we used to travel (fight) in hell crowded trains & ST Buses. Gone are the old days... Everyone is earning & no one wants hectic travel any more. Just sit in a car & land directly at the starting point of trek/climb. No more “Dhakka bukki” in trains & buses.
A thought in my mind: Nothing seemed right since beginning of our trek. First the driver came late. Next police stopped us thinking we are drunk. Further we saw a horrifying accident on our way to belapur. A loaded passenger bus smashed a guy crossing the road at night (this belapur hill area is famous for such accidents since long; no street lights in this stretch).
Till the Amby Valley, road condition is obviously good. After taking right from the “Telbel Phata” (local name for Telbaila Diversion), the road goes terribly bad. It was like riding a monster truck on off-road track. We reached the village around 5.00am. We had nothing to do till the sunrise. I tried to sleep for some time, to take rest. My bro (Anish) took out his Mashaal (smoke). Grabbing this point everyone came out of the car, and we started chatting.
Sunday Morning: 05.15am. 31/05/2009.
We decided to start with the first ray of light so we could reach the climbing base before it gets too hot. It took us just 15 mins to reach the base of the Telbaila wall. It’s actually a base of two volcanic walls (Dike formation - you can see the photos in my previous blog). You will find a small temple at the base. Villagers have put a solar powered lamp near it.
Anish wanted to lead this climb as I have done this twice. I told him to continue till the difficult patch comes & then I was going to take over from him. We started preparing. Sarvesh and Anish emptied their sacks, and in next five mins all the equipment was set on the floor. Mean while I was busy clicking the real time photographs of the preparations. I have not yet touched my sack… containing hardware & “HELMETs”. Suddenly we heard some unusual sound… by the time we realized what it was; rock fall started from the top of the wall. Guys started running for shelter………..and then there was a big Tock! I looked at it, Anish was down on ground. Me & Sarvesh ran towards him despite the rock fall. We took him to the cave below. He was holding his head with his hand. When we took his hand off; there was blood running all over his head. We gave him first aid, washed his wound with fresh water. But, there were no signs of blood clotting, wound was bleeding heavily. Then we cleaned his wound with Savlon & put a bandage around his head. After half an hour the blood flow finally stopped, and we had to start our descent to the village.
Now it was time to inform at home. I informed his mother. I guess after my call the situation at his home must have gone really anxious/panicky. We directly headed to Lonavala Civil hospital where Anish’s uncle had already spoken to the doctor regarding this accident (he is Lonavala based). The ward-boy told us that his wound would require stitches. The doctor managed to close the wound in five stitches. Mean time our dear friend (Harshal) had a sweet nap outside the operation theatre on a stretcher!
We visited uncle’s place in Lonavala on our way back. But he was not ready to accept that this has happened accidently. I guess still he thinks that; it was our mistake & we did something wrong. Can’t help……………
When we reached at his home in Mumbai, his wife was waiting anxiously. Mom was worried. Positive point: Dad was sleeping when we reached. And, the situation was not as serious as we thought.
Bottom line of the Blog: Anish is safe with only external wound (as told by the doctor) & nothing serious happened. Thank god for this.
He had to shave his head due to the wound & the stitches.
Ghazini look you see…..……for two weeks.
Note: Each & everything mentioned here is TRUE. It is not to scare you but just to tell you that please take extra care while going for such activities. Your head is equally important as other Muscular parts.
30/08/2009.
