Nagpur: A carefree monsoon outing turned into a terrifying brush with death for four young men from Nagpur on Sunday after they were stranded on a rock over 200 feet below the popular Kukdi Khapa waterfall, 100km off Nagpur in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh.Trapped in rapidly rising floodwaters and surrounded by a roaring current, the quartet could have been swept away, but for a daring rescue operation by the State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF).The rescued youths were Shyam Borkar, 25, Atharva Oke, 22, Manish Uike, 25, and Satish Bawane, 23. While Borkar, Oke and Uike are residents of Nandanvan area of Nagpur, Bawane hails from Yashodhara Nagar locality. The group travelled to Kukdi Khapa falls, nestled in the Sillewani mountain range for photography and picnic.Officials said, the four youths trekked down to the rocks below the waterfall when conditions changed dramatically. What was moments earlier a manageable flow, suddenly transformed into a powerful torrent. Water levels began rising rapidly, cutting off their route back to the riverbank.With the current swelling, the four men scrambled onto a rock in the middle of the stream and watched helplessly as the water rose. Their desperate cries for help alerted other tourists, who immediately dialled the emergency helpline 112.Madhya Pradesh SDERF company commander Ganesh Kumar Dhurwey told TOI the state command and control centre in Bhopal received the distress call at around 1.40pm.Dhurwey and his seven-member team rushed to the spot. Battling dense fog and poor visibility, the rescuers drove 35km to reach the remote location, where they found four youths precariously perched on a rock as waters surged around them. Officials said the situation became more dangerous after water levels increased following the release of water from upstream barrage gates.Two of the stranded youths managed to stay calm, but the other two suffered panic attacks and were close to collapse.Rejecting a longer but safer approach, the team opted for a risky direct rescue. A rope more than 200 feet long was anchored, and rescuers were lowered into the mist-filled gorge. Poor visibility and powerful currents made the operation challenging.“The four boys were trembling in fear. We secured them with ropes, provided life jackets and guided them through the rescue,” said Dhurwey. Even after reaching the youths, the ordeal was far from over. The rescuers had to negotiate 2km of fast-flowing water downstream, clutching onto rocks, branches and vegetation.After almost two hours and with assistance from residents and police, all four were finally brought to safety. Though physically unharmed, they were exhausted and shaken by their near-death experience.The incident serves as another reminder of the hidden dangers at Kukdi Khapa falls, a popular getaway for Nagpur residents. Authorities warned that rainfall in surrounding hills and sudden releases from upstream barrages can trigger flash floods within minutes. Notably, a 21-year-old youth died at the same waterfall in August after reportedly slipping while taking a selfie.Police have again urged visitors to heed warnings, stay on designated paths and avoid venturing into the river channel during the monsoon.Umranala outpost in charge Rajesh Sahu said police personnel, gram kotwals and volunteers continuously patrol the area and sound whistles to warn tourists.
