The Ooty Experience

Jan 2005, I was doing my M.Tech in Pondicherry Engg College. I had a few mallu friends who where doing B.Tech there. They were planning for a tour, to Ooty. So they approached me and i said would join them. The tour was supposed to be in the last week of Jan. With lot of discussion, we decided to start on Friday 28th Jan 2005. There were totally 15 of us who would be going on this tour. We arranged for a minibus and planned to start the tour by 7 pm. From P.G hostel there were 2 of us, myself and my junior Ben and the rest of them from B.Tech. So by 6.30 pm, the bus reached University Gate (We decided not to start from our campus since the trip was an unofficial one and the University gate was adjecent to ours). By 7.30 pm we started our journey to the Nilgiris. Upto midnight we had lot of enjoyment in the. By morning we were in Ooty. We went straight to Hotel and took rooms. After fresh up we headed for sightseeing, and by sun afternoon we had covered up almost all places in and around Ooty. On the return, we also visited Coonor and my aunt’s house in Coonor. By 5.00 pm, we started our return journey to Pondy. All of us were tired after 2 days of enjoyment. We were coming down on the ghat road and suddenly the driver lost control of the bus at a 90 degree turn. Our bus went on to hit a retaining wall. I could hear a loud sound and next moment i was on the floor of the bus. When i was on my feet, I could see blood on my friends faces. I was terrified…!! The door of the bus was jammed and none of us were able to get out. People gathered and they were trying to break the door. Two of my friends had head injuries and within no time blood was all over the floor of bus. Somehow we got out of the bus and luckily for us a car stopped and we took the two injured to Coonor govt Hospital. Rest of them who sustained minor injuries were taken to Metupallayam Hospital. Three of us, who did not have any injuries stayed near the bus to take care of our luggage. I phoned my Uncle and within one hour he came to the spot. We picked all the luggage and moved to Coimbatore, as the two of them who sustained head injuries were brought to Coimbatore for treatment. Next day those who were admitted to Mettupalayam Hospital was discharged. But the condition of the two was still serious. Next 2-3 days passed and slowly they showed signs of recovery. I returned to home after 2 days with after a terrifying incident. I have visited Ooty 8-10 times before this trip, but i’ll never forget this Ooty Experience!