Frustrated urban youth caught in violent shootout in Thane

Aching to release pent up energy? Just shoot a stranger, say instructors who man the paintball war that unfolds by the Panther-ridden Yeour hills in Thane. The Guide sent a volunteer who returned a relaxed murderer

It's war! How else would you describe crouching behind a tree to take aim, loading your gun at break-neck speed and ducking to miss that fateful bullet? Except, this bullet pierces you, not to let out a jet of blood, but florescent edible plant colour. Paintballing wars unfold in the Yeour Hills (that the instructors whisper are home to panthers) in Thane over weekends.

How to get there
Take a train to Thane station, followed by an autorickshaw to the Yeour Forests. The autos quote exorbitant rates, so, don't forget to bargain. The ride to the top of the incline is a slow and bumpy one. If you have the energy, walk it up while enjoying the greenery around you.

Where it unfolds
The playing field lies opposite the Exotica Resort, an ideal place to grab a bite between games. Inflatable walls are surrounded by a rocky gorge. The instructors start off by sharing some interesting and important advice u00e2u0080u0094 only shoot from a distance of 15 feet, never take off your protective helmet and be careful about where you point your gun.

And then the action
The jackets, a neck band that leaves you looking like a Bull Dog raring to go, and Hannibal Lector-style face helmets leave you feeling like you could be starring in the War of The Worlds. Once you are split into pairs, the action begins.

If this were a real war, you are likely to be taken prisoner in the first five minutes. Despite instructions on trying to maintain "organised chaos", the temptation to shoot randomly without facing the music, gets the better of you. Colour balls whiz by, interrupted by excited shrieks.

Surprisingly, pulling the trigger makes you relax and forget all about the real world. And if you had more than a measly stash of 20 paintballs, you could stay trigger happy all day. Didn't someone famous once say, "It is well that war is so terrible otherwise we would grow too fond of it"?

Each game of paintballing costs Rs 250. Natura Adventures will tailor-make outings for you and your friends/colleagues. They thrown in a session of rockclimbing too. To register for a full-day or half-day plan, call Natura Adventures on 65259195 or log on to https://www.natura.co.in/

What is paintball?
Paintball is a game in which players eliminate opponents by hitting them with pellets containing paint (paintballs) usually shot from a carbon dioxide or compressed-gas (HPA or Nitrogen) powered gun (or marker). Games can be played either indoor or outdoor, and take various forms generally divided between woodsball played in natural, wooded terrain and speedball played on open, level fields with artificial obstacles.

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