Taming the River Wild

Initially, Tons seemed to be a well-behaved river. But the first rapid that hit the raft left the adventure-seekers drenched, stirred and shaken

THE FIRST THING YOU MUST KNOW is what to do if the raft overturns and you are thrown into the water,8221; started David, our expert guide from Canada as we stood on the banks of the Tons togged out in parkas, life jackets and helmets getting a safety briefing. The exhilaration that had swept over us as we stood savouring the unbridled beauty of Mori in Ut-taranchal, began to ebb a wee bit.

For the first time I also began to see the sense in reunion dinners. For this is exactly what this trip was8212;a reunion of our college gang of 10, getting together after a gap of almost 20 years. Only four made it finally.

But here we were8212;the fearless four, nudging 40, but out to prove to the world that age was only a condi-tion of the mind. Even if the mind was at that moment a cauldron of befuddled thoughts ranging doubts about swimming skills and concern about the foolhardy things mid-life crisis can make you do. But by now it was too late funny, before the trip our motto had been 8220;it8217;s never too late8221; and so with knocking knees, we climbed into the raft, paddles in hand and heart in the mouth. White water rafting, here we come! One of us was experienced and immediately took position right in front of the inflated boat, while David asked three of us to get onto the rear section. 8220;You are drier here,8221; he explained, adding, 8220;and safer.8221;

Crisp paddle commands were handed out as more people joined us, and in seconds we were off with two other rafts full of adventurers. A reassuring sight was the presence of Rana, our camp manager, and Kaan Singh, another guide, hovering around the boats in their little kayaks8212;with the purpose of bailing out anyone who may tip over.

8220;Forward,8221; shouted David, the captain of the boat, and we all began the paddling. Initially the rapids were slow and the Tons seemed to be a well-behaved river. But sud-denly we heard 8220;hold on8221;8212;our cue to duck and sit down in the raft. We hit the first rapid which kind of made Universal Studio8217;s water rides seem like kindergarten stuff.

Drenched, stirred and shaken to the bone, we emerged clutching on to the paddle for no reason whatsoever you actually need to clutch the ropes on the side of the raft.

But, at the same time, there was also no mistaking the adrenaline rushing through the veins. And this is exactly how it went for the next hour-and-a half as we tackled the rapids, ducked down and paddled furiously8212;the exercise inter-spersed by episodes of one of the boats overturning behind us and a young lady falling out, with every-one holding their collective breaths till she was pulled back into the raft.

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There is of course much more to Camp Lunagad than river rafting. The site is nestled on the banks of river Tons at an altitude of 3,500 feet above sea level and surrounded by mountains and pine trees. You wake up to the sound of the river in your ears, witness the early morning sun filtering through the pines and have the cool breeze chasing away the tiredness of city life. Aren8217;t you feeling jealous?

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More