Guna Caves Rescue

On 3 September 2006, Subhash Chandran fell into Guna Caves and was rescued by his friend Siju David. This is the only known case where a person that fell into Guna Caves survived.

Background

Subhash Chandran (19) hails from Manjummel, Ernakulam, Kerala and worked as a painter. Subhash Chandran had many childhood friends including Siju David, who were all part of a club named Darshana. They came to visit Guna Caves in Kodaikanal (where the Tamil movie '' Gunaa'' was shot). 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.

Subhash Chandran, who wanted to go down into the 100 feet deep cave, tripped and fell inside. His friend Abhilash John was the first to notice his fall, and he informed the rest of the friend group. The locals initially told the friend group to leave to avoid trouble. 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.

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. After hearing Subhash Chandran's voice, Siju David then decided to go inside. With a 50 feet rope and an additional rope tied around his waist, Siju David slowly climbed in. When the first rope ended, Siju David turned on his torch but later turned it off since he could only see bats. After going 60 feet deep, he saw Subhash Chandran lying on a rock and shouted that his friend was alive.

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.

List of Manjummel boys

Note: After the success of the film ''Manjummel Boys'', the friend group became popular by that name.

Aftermath

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. The friend group was withheld in Kodaikanal, and they were only able to safely leave without legal hassles after the intervention of the doctor who treated Subhash Chandran.

The Dindigul Collectors had spoken about erecting a fence and safety grills at Guna Caves to ensure safety in the future.

It took six months for Subhash Chandran to recover from the incident and he spend sixty days in an ayurvedic hospital.

In 2008, Siju David received a bravery award from the Indian president.

Movie depiction

Many directors met the boys in order make a film based on this incident, but it was called off due to high expenses.

In 2023, director Chidambaram met them and finalised to make a project based on this incident under the title ''Manjummel Boys'', 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.

Notes

References

External links

* {{cite web
, title=Siju David vs State Of Kerala Represented By on 10 April, 2015
, website=indiankanoon.org
, url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/48964300/?type=print&__cf_chl_tk=AbxR6OeI40uzTGnRgJ6yVqMKTBhMPpf5aLtRWbIKXkI-1726290261-0.0.1.1-4948
, accessdate=14 September 2024
, date=10 April 2015

Caving incidents and rescues