“Rishikesh Team” has safely returned last night!

A group of Rishikesh’s travel agents and mountain expedition specialists teamed up and sent a rescue crew into the Himalayan mountains. They helped hundreds of village people between Agastmuni and Gaurikund (Kedarnath).

Click on below pictures for enlarged views.

“Rishikesh Team” on their mission – charged and happy to be able to help

Agastmuni and Gaurikund

Given the current crisis in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand, people from 12 local companies in Rishikesh (Red Chilli Adventures, Outbound Adventure, Paddle India, De-N-Ascent Expeditions, Questrails, Great Himalayan Expeditions, Garhwal Himalayan Exploration, Sohan Tours & Travel, Step Himalayas, Indo Ganga Holidays, Rush Endless Adventure and Trekt India) got together and organised ration/supplies (water, biscuits, bread, juice, rice, flour, tea, sugar, gas cylinders, tents, ropes, blankets, clothes, torches, medicine) and prepared 12 trucks to go into the mountain area.

Team heading towards the mountains

More than 40 curageous and determined volunteers risked their lives in order to help neglected village people who had not received any help so far. Despite a badly destroyed and interrupted road network, worsening weather and looming landslides, they managed to deliver help where it was needed (and still is needed!). While these days everybody is trying to exist the mountain region as quickly as possible, our crew stepped right into the lion’s den.

THIS VIDEO gives an idea of the bad road conditions…:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Drohs9vMQXo&feature=youtu.be

Uttarakhand: bad road conditions

The groups’ aim was to provide food and equipment to help people surviving the coming two monsoon months, a period in which it will be impossible to drive into the mountains to give support.

Villagers come and pick up rations

Women carrying bags of rice and flour return to their village

Team carrying rafting equipment – necessary to reach villagers on the other side of the river

Village people waiting for raft with supplies

Sites of destruction

THIS VIDEO shows dramatic moves by raft. In order to reach the cut-off village people with the supplies, the team had to cross the river. Some villagers sit by the shores, waiting patiently…: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFr08vWgJtk

THIS VIDEO: To reach the people of another village, the crew had to trek and carry all the supplies on a narrow path through the forests…: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeTzC1FxCDg

A huge THANKS to all those involved – the sponsors, donors, suppliers, the team in Rishikesh that handled overall communications/coordination and above all the brave men who drove out there and risked their lives. They got the respect and admiration of those who watched them.

With the experience of this trip, we will now reassess the situation and plan the next moves. The crisis is not over yet. 

Going home back to Rishikesh – stop and go on bypass roads – arriving at 1am in the night