20+ Fishermen Pull Out Beached Mahindra Scorpio-N [Video]

Driving on the beach may sound exciting to many, but it is in fact, a risky thing to do. Most beaches in India aren't meant for vehicles. Even the drive-in beaches aren’t always safe. Things only get harder for inexperienced drivers. Driving on loose sand can often result in the vehicle getting stuck in it. In a video that surfaced online, we see a Mahindra Scorpio-N that is stuck on a beach, being rescued by the fisherfolk nearby.

This incident is reportedly from Jodugullapalem Beach in Vizag. The video starts by showing the beached SUV. The black Scorpio-N is stuck close to the sea. In fact, the waves are lashing on its wheels. Several locals have gathered around and are trying to pull it out of the sand.

Reports say that the people in the Scorpio-N had come there to shoot a wedding video, and somehow ended up having an unlucky day. From the visuals, it is clear that the vehicle's chassis is sitting on the sand.

The driver could have slammed the brakes while moving through the sand, causing the SUV to sink into it suddenly. Harsh throttle inputs could have caused the wheels to spin fast, losing traction and creating deep pits at the wheels. This would have led to the chassis getting beached, eventually landing the vehicle in a completely immovable state.

Fisherfolk from around soon showed up at the scene. They can be seen trying to get the vehicle out of the sand. 20+ fishermen are seen trying to move the vehicle. A few of them are also seen digging out sand from under the vehicle. This was essential to free the chassis. Someone soon brings in what looks like solid flat logs. They then use them as rails to provide traction to the SUV's wheels. They finally manage to push the SUV out of the sand, safely.

Is It Legal To Drive On A Beach?

You might not know this, but driving on a beach is illegal in India. Various local and state bylaws forbid this. Driving on a beach can be dangerous to the sensitive ecosystems and environment around. Mishaps and beaching of vehicles can further endanger the lives of those involved and create inconvenience to the larger public.

Severe legal actions could be initiated against you if you are caught driving on a beach. The only exception would be you doing it on a drive-in beach.

The Indian Fascination Towards Beach Driving

For reasons unknown, the Indian affinity for beach driving never ends! The rich and the poor alike, go over-enthusiastic and take their vehicles to beaches nearby. There have been many instances in which poor skill levels, reckless driving and slow response times caused mishaps while driving on the seaside.

We have come across several cases of Toyota Innovas and Mahindra Thars getting beached. We even saw a Ferrari California T getting stuck in the coastal sand! Proud owners getting overconfident about their vehicles and completely forgetting (read 'ignoring') their limits, often form the reason for these.

Getting beached can be quite dangerous for vehicles. Seawater being saline, can be highly corrosive. Prolonged exposure to it or even the seaside winds, can damage the metal parts of your vehicle.

The tides will only make things worse. If you ever take your vehicle to a (drive-in) beach, keep a close eye on tides. They can directly affect the firmness of the sand. It is relatively safer to drive at the low tide, as the sand is firmer then and there is less chance of the vehicle getting bogged. High tide makes the sand wet and soft, rendering vehicles more vulnerable to getting stuck in it.

Deflating your tyres before hitting the sand is key. The tyre pressure should be kept in the range of 10-15 psi, as this would give them more contact patches with the sand, ensuring better weight distribution and lesser chances of sinking.