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Four Indian-origin teens rescued off NH mountain, face $1K fine
When it started getting dark and temperatures dropped below freezing with the wind chill, the four longtime friends from Edison called 911 for help.
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Staff Reporter - Fri, 21, Aug 2026
- 02:30 EDT
- 33
Representational image / Pexels
Four Indian-origin teenagers from New Jersey are facing a rescue bill exceeding $1,000 after an ill-prepared late-afternoon hike on New Hampshire’s Mount Lafayette turned into a midnight emergency.
The four 18-year-olds, Jainam Bhavsar, Purva Jayani, Tirth Shah and Advik Yadav, set out on the strenuous 9-mile Franconia Ridge Trail at 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 14, just hours before sunset. While three of the friends had trained at a gym for the steep climb, the fourth was unprepared, suffering from severe cramps and breathing difficulties as the altitude climbed to 5,000 feet on Mount Lafayette, NBC New York reported.
When it started getting dark and temperatures dropped below freezing with the wind chill, the four longtime friends from Edison called 911 for help.
New Hampshire sent a search and rescue team, and it took nine hours to get back to base. A spokesperson told NBC that the group “did not have headlamps or enough food and water to complete the 7-9 hour hike. Due to the hikers’ lack of preparation, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department intends to bill the hikers for the cost of the rescue,” which is likely to be more than $1,000.
Also Read: Indian-origin NJ resident drowns during family picnic
All four hikers returned safely to Edison by Saturday afternoon. The friend who struggled on the mountain has since recovered without needing formal medical attention.
“I was telling him, ‘I’m with you, take your breaths, we are with you,’” Yadav told NBC, reflecting on the moment they waited for help. “I’m really grateful for the rescuers who saved us.”
“You should start really early so it’s not dark when you go down. And you shouldn’t be overconfident,” Shah admitted after returning home. He noted that while their parents were initially stressed, they were proud the friends stuck together.
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