Guna Caves rescue
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On 3 September 2006, Subhash Chandran fell into Guna Caves and was rescued by his friend Siju David.[1] This is the only known case where a person that fell into Guna Caves survived.[2]
Background
[edit]"It was pitch dark inside and no one knew whether the rope reached him"
Subhash Chandran (19) hails from Manjummel, Ernakulam, Kerala and worked as a painter. Subhash Chandran had many childhood friends including Siju David,[b][2] who were all part of a club named Darshana.[4] They came to visit Guna Caves in Kodaikanal (where the Tamil movie Gunaa was shot).[4][1] A sign in Tamil indicated a prohibited area where 13 people had died; however, the friend group could not read Tamil and proceeded by crossing over the dilapidated fence.[4]
Subhash Chandran, who wanted to go down into the 100 feet deep cave, tripped and fell inside.[2] His friend Abhilash John was the first to notice his fall, and he informed the rest of the friend group.[4] The locals initially told the friend group to leave to avoid trouble.[4] The friends informed the forest department, and faced police brutality before the forest department staff, the firemen, and forest officer Thirunavukkarasukmai rushed to come help rescue Subhash Chandran.[4][2]
His friends urged the firemen to go inside as Subhash Chandran's condition would be known only by going down into the cave, but they were afraid to go inside. Sixon John, another of Subhash Chandran's friends, yelled loudly, briefly awakening him.[5] After hearing Subhash Chandran's voice, Siju David then decided to go inside.[5][2] With a 50 feet rope and an additional rope tied around his waist, Siju David slowly climbed in.[3] When the first rope ended, Siju David turned on his torch but later turned it off since he could only see bats.[4] After going 60 feet deep, he saw Subhash Chandran lying on a rock and shouted that his friend was alive.[2]
Firefighters rushed in one after the other. Siju David then hugged Subhash Chandran tightly to his body. They were slowly pulled up by the firemen. First aid was given to Subhash Chandran who was unconscious. After a struggle of almost 5 hours, Subhash Chandran was brought back to a conscious state.[2]
List of Manjummel boys
[edit]Note: After the success of the film Manjummel Boys, the friend group became popular by that name.[4]
| Name | Comments | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| Subhash Chandran | the victim of the accident | [4] |
| Siju David aka Kuttan | the rescuer of Subhash also the eldest person among the boys | |
| Abhilash John | He saw Subhash fall into the pit, became traumatized and disassociated himself from the group for a period. | |
| Sudheesh | [6] | |
| Jinson | ||
| Sixon John | He worked in a metal manufacturing unit and gained a habit of having a loud voice. Also younger brother of Siju John | [4][5] |
| Krishnakumar M. | While swimming as a kid, he got stuck in a current and was saved by Siju David. | [4] |
| Sujith U. S. | ||
| Prasad P. S. | The driver. He revisited Kodaikanal in 2009 and recalled how the locals still remembered the incident. | |
| Anil Joseph | ||
| Siju John | ||
| Sumesh U. S. | He did not go on the trip, but he helped his friends financially for the return trip from Kodaikanal and for Subhash's treatment. |
Aftermath
[edit]Subhash Chandran, Siju David, and their friends were charged with entering a prohibited area and had to pay a penalty of ₹2,500. After the incident, the director of a fire safety technology institute in Kerala had offered to enroll Siju David in a free course and sponsor his higher studies.[3] The friend group was withheld in Kodaikanal,[4] and they were only able to safely leave without legal hassles after the intervention of the doctor who treated Subhash Chandran.[3]
The Dindigul Collectors had spoken about erecting a fence and safety grills at Guna Caves to ensure safety in the future.[1]
It took six months for Subhash Chandran to recover from the incident and he spend sixty days in an ayurvedic hospital.[4]
In 2008, Siju David received a bravery award from the Indian president.[4]
Movie depiction
[edit]Many directors met the boys in order make a film based on this incident,[4] but it was called off due to high expenses.[citation needed]
In 2023, director Chidambaram met them and finalised to make a project based on this incident under the title Manjummel Boys,[1] and the movie was released in theatres in 2024 and became the highest grossing Malayalam movie ever. The films crossed the record of 200 crores at the box office and even received praise even in Tamil Nadu.[7]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Kumar, D. Suresh (5 March 2024). "Real Manjummel Boys hero in 2006: I could not think of going back without my childhood friend". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "குணா குகையில் விழுந்து மீண்ட கேரள இளைஞர்!" [Kerala youth recovered after falling into Guna cave!]. Oneindia (in Tamil). Kodaikanal. 6 September 2006. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "A friend in need". The Hindu. Kochi. 12 October 2006. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "A day out with the original Manjummel Boys". The New Indian Express. 18 March 2024. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ a b c Sebastian, Sarah (13 March 2024). "'Manjummel Boys': Director explains why 'belt fight' scene at Subhash's house was not random". The Week. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Kumar, Anjana H. "Manjummel Boys: Not Just a Survival Thriller, A Story of Working Class Heroes". News Click. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Manjummel Boys inches closer to Rs 200 cr mark globally, becomes first non-Tamil movie, without dubbed version, to gross Rs 50 cr in Tamil Nadu". The Indian Express. 17 March 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
External links
[edit]- "Siju David vs State Of Kerala Represented By on 10 April, 2015". indiankanoon.org. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2024.