U'khand SDRF conquers unclimbed Nilapani Peak
Nilapani Peak
, standing at 6,054m, in the remote Nelang Valley of
Uttarkashi district
. SDRF said that these expeditions are part of the govt's commitment to promoting adventure sports and tourism in the state's rich Himalayan landscapes and mountain ranges.
The expedition, flagged off by SDRF Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi on April 5, reached the summit on Friday, marking a major milestone in the force's high-altitude operational capabilities. Yaduvanshi commended the "discipline and devotion" shown throughout the mission. He added that the SDRF plans to undertake further mountaineering and skill development expeditions across various Himalayan regions in Aug and Sept, aiming to put Uttarakhand's adventure potential on the global map.
Uttarakhand DGP Deepam Seth called the achievement "a proud moment for the Uttarakhand Police," while applauding the team for their courage and dedication. IG SDRF Arun Mohan Joshi praised the team's preparedness and cohesion, saying that the ascent demonstrated SDRF's ability to perform "not just during disasters, but in every circumstance."
The expedition was led by SI Manoj Rawat, with deputy leader Sachin Rawat, climbing leader Virendra Kala, communications specialist Manoj Kumar, fireman Ravi Chauhan, and 15 other members forming the core team. Manoj Rawat described the climb as "a test of courage, endurance, and teamwork," highlighting challenges such as extreme altitude, blizzards, and oxygen shortages. He credited the team's success to their "unwavering resolve" in overcoming each challenge.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Over 1,600 Kedarnath pilgrims evacuated safely as heavy rains lash in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag
Dehradun, More than 1,600 Chardham pilgrims were evacuated to safety on Saturday as heavy overnight rains lashed Rudraprayag district, causing big boulders to slide down the hillside and block the trek route to Kedarnath near Gaurikund. Over 1,600 Kedarnath pilgrims evacuated safely as heavy rains lash in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag Water and debris also entered around a dozen homes in several villages of the district, Secretary Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Vinod Kumar Suman said. Relief and rescue operations were launched from 6 am and continue, he said. There was no loss of human or animal life. "It rained incessantly in the district between 1 and 4 am, flooding the streams whose waters entered about ten buildings in Chameli and Rumsi villages, Chamrara Tok and Vijaynagar area under Rudraprayag. Several roads were breached," he said. Heavy stones and debris blocked a 30-metre stretch of the trek route to Kedarnath at a distance of about 50 metres from Ghorapadav in Gaurikund. Immediately, teams of the district administration, NDRF, SDRF and other related departments started relief work there. The passengers were evacuated safely by making an alternative route. So far, about 1,600 pilgrims have been evacuated safely from Kedarnath. The process of evacuating about 700 other pilgrims is underway, Suman said. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took an update on the situation from disaster management officials and gave them instructions to conduct relief and rescue operations at a fast pace, besides taking care of the pilgrims and their safety. Disaster Management Department, as well as Revenue Department, Public Works Department, Police Department and Health Department got involved in relief and rescue work from 6:00 am. Debris is being removed rapidly with the help of JCBs in the affected areas. Villagers, livestock and other affected people have been taken to safe places. The local administration is ensuring safe accommodation, food, medical and essential services by setting up relief camps. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Indian Express
Tea-loving Nepal is warming up to coffee
Coffee hasn't always been an easy sell in Nepal. The Himalayan country is a major tea producer, as well as a major consumer. When people greet each other in the morning, they don't ask 'how are you.' They say 'have you had your tea?' Tea — usually served with as a sweet, milky beverage in a piping hot glass tumbler — is as much a part of Nepal's culture as rice, a constant presence at homes, meetings and social gatherings. But a growing number of Nepalis are warming up to coffee, as trendy cafes spring up street corners in cities and towns across the country. One cafe in the capital, Kathmandu, is widely seen as the pioneer. Gagan Pradhan began Himalayan Java as a single cafe in an alley, and it's grown to a chain with 84 locations the country. Pradhan estimates there around 7,000 cafes across the country, although so far international brands like Starbucks aren't in Nepal. 'There are lot of tea shops throughout the nation, but the kind of set up they have is still kind of old fashioned,' Pradhan said. 'I think with investors and people like us, when it comes to coffee shop we are more serious not only with machines, we are serious with everything like the lighting, the set up, the furnishings, the location.' Pradhan said tea shops usually offer just black tea or tea with milk, whereas a typical coffee menu has 10-15 hot beverages and about 10-15 cold beverages, he said. Pradhan said it's an appealing business because the initial investment to open a cafe is very low, they're clean and simple enough for a single to family to run, and customers are willing to pay more for coffee. Several of eastern Nepal's tea plantations in the mountains of east Nepal, famous for the tea, are joined by coffee plantations now. Nepal is part of a regional trend. Coffee consumption has soared across traditionally tea-drinking countries in Asia as members of growing middle classes seek out novel flavors and adopt international trends. Coffee is a premium drink in Nepal: it costs about $2 at Himalayan Java, which is enough to buy a meal at a local cafe in Kathmandu, or five cups of tea. Still, cafes bustle with officers workers on breaks and students looking for places to study. 'I think the idea of drinking coffee (in Nepal) was first triggered with people thinking it would elevate their standard of living, but then once they tasted coffee many people just liked it and continued to drink it,' said Deep Singh Bandari, a social worker who is a regular visitor to the coffee cafes. Most of the coffee drunk in Nepal is imported, but in the country's famous eastern tea-growing regions coffee plantations are springing up. According to Nepal's National Tea and Coffee Development Board, about 400 tons of coffee was produced in fiscal year 2021-22, the most recent for which data is available. That's a drop in the percolator compared to the 26,000 tons of tea produced the same year, but the board predicts rapid growth. 'Both young and old people in Nepal just love coffee, and the number of coffee drinkers is growing every day. This trend is just going to grow,' said Pradhan.
The Print
19 hours ago
- The Print
Machail Mata Yatra begins in J-K's Kishtwar, over 4,900 pilgrims offer prayers at shrine
As many as 4,944 pilgrims — 3,861 males, 776 females, and 308 children — paid obeisance at the temple till Friday evening, a police officer said. Amid spiritual fervour and devotion, pilgrims trekked serpentine tracks to offer prayers at the holy shrine and sought blessings from the goddess for enduring peace, prosperity, and well-being. Jammu, Jul 25 (PTI) The 43-day-long Machail Mata Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district commenced on Friday amid multi-tier security arrangements, with over 4,900 pilgrims paying obeisance at the Himalayan shrine. During the pre-yatra period till July 15, a total of 53,618 pilgrims had already visited the shrine, he said, adding that with today's batch, the number of pilgrims who have paid obeisance has gone up to 58,562. The yatra will conclude on September 5. Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Sunil Sharma, accompanied by Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar, Inspector General of Police Bhim Sen Tuti, and District Magistrate Pankaj Sharma, visited the shrine on the first day after the gates of the Mata Machail temple were opened today. They warmly welcomed all the devotees undertaking the sacred journey of the Mata Machail Yatra. Speaking to reporters after offering prayers, Sharma underlined the significance of the Machail Mata Yatra, which draws lakhs of devotees from across the country. 'Despite the growing number of pilgrims, many still face significant difficulties due to poor road connectivity and inadequate infrastructure. I have constantly worked towards enhancing the basic facilities in this remote and sacred region to ensure a smoother and more comfortable journey for the pilgrims,' he said. Sharma also made an emotional appeal to people across the Union Territory and the country to visit the holy shrine of Machail Mata and experience the divine energy and spiritual serenity it offers. The pilgrims had to trek for six to seven hours to reach the 9,705-foot-high shrine in the scenic Paddar valley, also famous for its sapphire mines. The holding capacity at Yatri Niwas at the base camp in Gulabgarh and various other places en route to the shrine has been increased to accommodate 5,000 pilgrims per day, the officals said. Roadside amenities, langar arrangements, mobile connectivity, traffic management, power, drinking water, and medical facilities have been taken care of, with special focus on sanitation and cleanliness in the ecologically sensitive region. Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Sharma said the Machail Mata Yatra holds immense spiritual and cultural significance and remains a cherished place of pilgrimage for devotees nationwide. Senior Superintendent of Police Naresh Singh assured pilgrims that adequate security arrangements, round-the-clock help desks, and essential facilities have been established to ensure a safe, smooth, and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage. He also appealed to all yatris to follow the yatra guidelines and cooperate fully with the administration. PTI AB NB NB This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
