Navi Mumbai: A 20-year-old youth from Andheri East, Mumbai, was successfully rescued on Thursday evening after getting lost in the dense forest near the KP Waterfall in Khopoli. The swift and coordinated efforts of the Yashwanti Hikers team led to the safe recovery of the stranded hiker within a few hours of receiving the distress call.

The youth, Priyanshu Gedam, had arrived alone in Khopoli around 2 PM on Thursday with the intention of trekking to the remote and scenic KP Waterfall, located about 4 km uphill from the popular Zenith Waterfall. Despite the challenging terrain and warnings against solo trekking, Gedam ventured into the forested area alone and eventually lost his way.

Realizing he was stranded, Gedam contacted the Maharashtra Mountaineer's Rescue Coordination Center (MMRCC) help desk, where coordinator Rahul Meshram promptly alerted Padmakar Gaikwad of the Yashwanti Hikers Khopoli team. Under Gaikwad’s guidance, a rescue team was immediately dispatched to the location.

"The search team, consisting of experienced hikers, reached Gedam in a short time and found him trapped in a difficult and dangerous spot within the forest. He was safely escorted back to Khopoli by around 5 PM," Meshram said.

The rescue team included Padmakar Gaikwad, Pranit Gawand, Nikhil Gurav, Abhijit Deshmukh, Ajay Phale, Atul Telange, Shubham Patil, and Kunal Patil — all members of the Yashwanti Hikers group. Their quick response and local expertise were key in ensuring a successful and timely rescue.

Helpline number of MMRCC- 7620230231