An iconic scene from the classic Indian film Sholay came to life nearly half a century later when a young woman in Meerut shocked onlookers by climbing a high-voltage electricity tower to demand marriage with her lover.
The only difference was that while it was Veeru who risked his life for Basanti in the film, this time Basanti herself took the dangerous step to win Veeru.
According to Indian media, the incident took place in Meerut, where a woman named Basanti climbed an electricity tower to publicly declare her love and press for marriage.
As soon as authorities were alerted, police rushed to the scene and attempted to persuade her to come down. However, she clearly stated that unless her marriage to Veeru was arranged, she would take her own life.
For several hours, police and rescue teams failed to convince her to descend safely. Eventually, officials changed their strategy and called her partner Veeru to the site. Following his arrival, the situation eased, and police were able to safely bring the woman down from the tower.
The local station house officer (SHO) said the couple had met through social media and both wished to marry. However, their families were opposing the union due to their belonging to different communities. This ongoing dispute reportedly pushed the woman to take such an extreme step.
Police officials said no final decision regarding the marriage has been made so far. Both families have been summoned to the Daurala police station for discussions, while the woman is also receiving counselling to prevent any similar dangerous actions in the future.
The incident once again highlighted how cinematic stories can, at times, unfold in real life in equally dramatic and unexpected ways.
