Daredevils all, sky is the limit for these NSG heroes

They are called 'The Daredevils' by their colleagues in the National Security Guard (NSG), the most toughened anti-terror commando force of the country. Rajesh Ahuja reports.

They are called 'The Daredevils' by their colleagues in the National Security Guard (NSG), the most toughened anti-terror commando force of the country.

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Members of steadily growing tribe of skydivers in the NSG can jump from anywhere between 80,000 feet (3300 feet roughly equals to a kilometre) and 20,000 feet and travel around 40 kilometres in the air to penetrate into the enemy area before opening their parachutes.

"To jump from 80,000 feet, you need to have an oxygen mask. And we jump loaded with weapons, gadgets and enough food to sustain ourselves," said an NSG officer.

Most of these sky divers have been drafted from the special forces of the army. "When I went up for the first time, I wasn't scared. Fear crossed my mind later. But after fifth or sixth jump, I started enjoying the experience," said a skydiver and a Colonel.

The skydivers recently dived from around 5,000 feet in an NSG function and brought down with them an overhead photo of home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde that they had clicked and developed in the chopper they had jumped from, all within a few minutes.

What about the families of these daredevils? "Oh, they have got used to it. Sometimes wife calls to know when I am coming back home," smiles a daredevil.