3 min readAug 8, 2024 07:50 AM IST
First published on: Aug 7, 2024 at 05:12 PM IST
Written by Preethviraj Dutta
Shubham Mane, a 28-year-old resident of Chikhli, had come to visit the Sinhagad fort on Shivratri on March 14. While walking up to the temple, he lost his way and ended up stuck in a spot where any movement could have sent him tumbling down a ravine. For four hours, he tried to contact the police, rescue teams, and friends, but there was no network. To his luck, some tourists passing by heard his cry for help, they contacted the local villagers who immediately went on to rescue Mane.
These rescuers are the young villagers of Atkarwadi, Sinhagad, nestled in the rugged terrain surrounding the historic Sinhagad fort. They are the local guardians and work as unsung heroes who carry out rescue operations in the area. They carry out these rescue operations with the support of the village head, social workers, and members of the forest conservation committee.
Another trekker, Anil Phulchand Kamble of Uttamnagar, Shivane, Pune, also had a terrifying experience in 2018, spanning almost two weeks from June 19 to July 1. The man had been missing in the forest for around eleven days. He had fallen into a gorge and was severely injured. Village women, who collect firewood from the forest, noticed a body and informed the rescuers. When they found him, he was alive but unable to speak. They managed to contact his family and bring him to safety.
Praveen Kachre and Yogesh Kadam from Dhankawadi, Pune, were also rescued in Sinhagad on December 25, 2021. They had come for a late-night trek but lost their way through the forest. Once informed, the rescue team immediately found them and brought them back to the village.
The rescue group consists of 10 to 12 members who are always active. However, this number increases to 30 to 40 during rescue missions. Most of these individuals are aged between 20 and 35. Equipped with a variety of tools and makeshift devices, these rescuers use wooden pulleys, ropes, and other inventive solutions to navigate the challenging terrain. The forest conservation committee has also provided them with a sturdy stretcher, which is crucial for safely transporting injured individuals. These tools, combined with their resourcefulness and courage, enable them to carry out their rescues effectively.
These brave rescuers, along with the local youth group Jai Bhavani Tarun Mandal, the elders of the village and forest conservation committee members, never seek compensation for their effort. “People offer us money, but we don’t do this for payment,” says one of the rescuers. “Seeing them safe and sound is all we need. Our work will continue like this”, he said.
Dubbed as the unsung heroes of Atkarwadi, the rescue team is always on its toes, ready for action the very next second of getting the SOS calls, mostly to help trekkers in distress. 
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