HYDERABAD, 12/05/2007: Magician Jadugar Anand 's son Akash in Hyderabad on May 12, 2007.
Magician Akash performs record-breaking underwater escapeHe was handcuffed, tied with a chain, wrapped in a sack and locked in a wooden box, which was then dropped into the Hussain Sagar Lake. Fifteen seconds later he emerged from the water to the cheers of an enthusiastic crowd.
Jadugar Akash claimed to have set a new world record Sunday, surpassing the feat achieved by his father Jadugar Anand, who had escaped from similar shackles in 40 seconds. Anand had performed his feat in the Narmda river at Jabalpur in 1970.
Anand, who was also present to watch his son's performance, said this was only the third underwater escape. Magician Harry Houdini, known as handcuffed king, performed the trick for the first time in 1912 in New York and took one minute to escape.
Hundreds of people watched Akash's breathtaking performance from boats in the lake, which divides the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
On one of the boats, Akash was first handcuffed and chained by his assistants. He was then sealed in a sack, which was then kept in a huge wooden box. The box was locked and sealed with thick ropes. About a dozen people then held the box with ropes with about three feet of it dropping in the water. Akash was seen emerging from water in 15 seconds and swimming to another boat.
Talking to reporters, he said it was magic - a mix of illusion and hypnotism. Akash said the feat also depended on the capability of the performer. He said he swims everyday and undergoes rigorous physical exercise.
Akash had earlier performed daredevil acts like escaping from an inferno after being dropped into it with hands and legs chained and riding blindfolded on a motorcycle on busy city roads.
Jadugar Akash claimed to have set a new world record Sunday, surpassing the feat achieved by his father Jadugar Anand, who had escaped from similar shackles in 40 seconds. Anand had performed his feat in the Narmda river at Jabalpur in 1970.
Anand, who was also present to watch his son's performance, said this was only the third underwater escape. Magician Harry Houdini, known as handcuffed king, performed the trick for the first time in 1912 in New York and took one minute to escape.
Hundreds of people watched Akash's breathtaking performance from boats in the lake, which divides the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
On one of the boats, Akash was first handcuffed and chained by his assistants. He was then sealed in a sack, which was then kept in a huge wooden box. The box was locked and sealed with thick ropes. About a dozen people then held the box with ropes with about three feet of it dropping in the water. Akash was seen emerging from water in 15 seconds and swimming to another boat.
Talking to reporters, he said it was magic - a mix of illusion and hypnotism. Akash said the feat also depended on the capability of the performer. He said he swims everyday and undergoes rigorous physical exercise.
Akash had earlier performed daredevil acts like escaping from an inferno after being dropped into it with hands and legs chained and riding blindfolded on a motorcycle on busy city roads.
A blindfolded man rides a bike in Coimbatore
Coimbatore, June 3 :A magician in Coimbatore rode a motorbike for nearly 50 kilometres with his eyes blindfolded, as he tried to impress the scientific nature of traffic rules among his fellows.
Akash, the magician, said the traffic rules were designed in such a scientific manner that if one followed them religiously, one could drive safely and even blindfolded.
Son of a famous magician, Anand came up with the bizarre idea to persuade people to drive their vehicles within the speed limit and follow road rules.
Akash who started his stunt by driving under a fire ring, said he believes that the number of accidents in the city can be drastically cut down if people become careful.
"I can tell you the 70 per cent of the secret lies in traffic rules. I follow traffic rules and that is one of the main reasons why I am able to keep myself safe. I want to tell people how scientific these rules are. If we follow these rules, the fatality rate on the on the roads will be zero," said Akash, a magician.
After criss-crossing through the city blindfolded, Akash completed his 50 km run without any untoward incident as hundreds of curious onlookers cheered him on the way
Coimbatore, June 3 :A magician in Coimbatore rode a motorbike for nearly 50 kilometres with his eyes blindfolded, as he tried to impress the scientific nature of traffic rules among his fellows.
Akash, the magician, said the traffic rules were designed in such a scientific manner that if one followed them religiously, one could drive safely and even blindfolded.
Son of a famous magician, Anand came up with the bizarre idea to persuade people to drive their vehicles within the speed limit and follow road rules.
Akash who started his stunt by driving under a fire ring, said he believes that the number of accidents in the city can be drastically cut down if people become careful.
"I can tell you the 70 per cent of the secret lies in traffic rules. I follow traffic rules and that is one of the main reasons why I am able to keep myself safe. I want to tell people how scientific these rules are. If we follow these rules, the fatality rate on the on the roads will be zero," said Akash, a magician.
After criss-crossing through the city blindfolded, Akash completed his 50 km run without any untoward incident as hundreds of curious onlookers cheered him on the way
