Latest news with #NorwegianPeople'sAid
India Today
31-05-2025
- India Today
Indian couple stranded on hike in Norway shares how volunteers came to their rescue
What began as a scenic hike to one of Norway's most iconic viewpoints turned into a chilling emergency for Indian content creator Akash Banerjee and his wife, Nidhi, until a group of strangers stepped in like something out of a to Preikestolen, or Pulpit Rock, is on many travel bucket lists. But for Akash Banerjee and his wife, it became a reminder that nature does not always go as their descent, roughly four kilometres from the nearest civilisation, Nidhi slipped and badly injured her ankle. The incident left the couple stranded in biting winds with rain closing in. With no immediate help in sight, fellow hikers urged Banerjee to call 113, Norway's emergency number. He hesitated, unsure of what help would actually arrive in such a remote area. But what happened next left him stunned."Still shaking my head in disbelief," Banerjee wrote in a post on Instagram, adding, "Within minutes, they used my phone to track us and assured help was coming." True to their word, a rescue team reached the couple within the hour, equipped with a vacuum splint and a shock didn't end there. The team wasn't uniformed professionals, but ordinary Norwegians, from a land surveyor to a petroleum worker, volunteering their time through the Norwegian People's Aid, an NGO giving rescue support free of stabilised Nidhi's leg and safely brought her down to base a look at Akash's post here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akash Banerjee (@ media users poured in with appreciation in the comments section of the post. 'It's called sense of community and civic sense. Civic sense isn't just picking up garbage, it's having the compassion to be kind to everyone,' a user said, while another added, 'Beautiful country. Lovely, helpful people. So glad you got all the assistance you needed and more.'Akash Banerjee, still moved by the experience, called Norway one of the happiest nations for a reason. 'They didn't just rescue us, they restored faith in what it means to care for strangers,' he said.
NDTV
29-05-2025
- NDTV
"Still Shaking My Head In Disbelief": Indian Man Recounts Harrowing Hike Experience In Norway
An Indian content creator recently recounted a harrowing hiking experience in Norway with his wife and shared how local volunteers came to their rescue. In a long Instagram post, Akash Banerjee revealed that he and his wife were hiking to Preikestolen, popularly known as Pulpit Rock, near the city of Stavanger. They reached the viewpoint successfully and enjoyed the picturesque view. However, on their descent, their journey took an unexpected, dangerous turn when Mr Banerjee's wife, Nidhi, slipped on the wet trail and sprained or possibly fractured her ankle. "About 4 kilometres from civilisation, biting cold winds, rain fast approaching and unable to move - I was at my wits end on what to do next," he recalled. Mr Banerjee shared that after being encouraged by fellow hikers, he called Norway's emergency number, 113, "with a lot of scepticism". However, what happened next restored his faith in humanity. "Within minutes, the responders had used my phone to pin my location and assured me help was on the way," he said. "In less than an hour, an army of mountain rescuers - accompanied by doctors - were with us," he shared. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akash Banerjee (@ The rescue team, part of Norwegian People's Aid (Norsk Folkehjelp), quickly examined his wife's injuries and carried her down to base camp on a portable stretcher. "They examined Nidhi - put her leg in a vacuum bag - opened up a portable stretcher - and 6 super-humans carted Nidhi all the way to the base camp. All with a smile," he shared. The couple was concerned about the cost of such a rescue, but this was also eased after he learned that the team was volunteers offering their expertise for free. "These rescuers were not part of any paid / professional team that was at the park / trail - they were normal working Norwegians who just land up to help when the need arises," he wrote. "For a nation that spends so much time in rain / darkness - I came to understand why Norway is one of the happiest nations on the planet. I am at a loss of words - but I am deeply thankful & in awe of Norwegians & Norwegian People's Aid," he added. "I don't believe in angels and fairies - but I encountered them myself in Norway. Still shaking my head in disbelief - and relief - that angels do exist," Mr Banerjee said. Since being shared, the post has garnered more than 33,000 likes. In the comments section, users praised the Norwegian volunteers. "Beautiful country. Lovely, helpful people. So glad you got all the assistance you needed and more," wrote one user. "Humanity at its best. They don't get penalised for leaving their work and going for rescue or doing community work. Encouraged and built into social structure, a lesson for world at large. Good to know you guys are safe. And many blessings to these angels indeed," commented another. "I live in Norway and i can attest to every word said sense and prioritising your fellow citizens is at its peak in how Norwegians show their patriotism not by hating a particular sect of people in your country," wrote a third user.
Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Indian Express
‘Angels do exist': Indian couple shares harrowing hike experience in Norway, hails miraculous rescue by local volunteers
Hiking can be inherently dangerous, especially without proper preparation or awareness of the terrain and weather conditions. In recent years, several casualties have been reported worldwide, often triggered by sudden weather changes or poor physical endurance. Hiking remains one of the most unpredictable outdoor activities. Abhishek Banerjee, a popular Indian content creator and satirist, recounted a recent harrowing hiking experience with his wife in Norway, shedding light on the swift rescue operation that followed. During the final leg of their road trip through Norway, Banerjee and his wife, Nidhi, were hiking to Preikestolen, popularly known as Pulpit Rock, near the city of Stavanger. The site, perched high above the stunning Lysefjord, attracts thousands of hikers each year, but its rugged terrain can become challenging after rainfall. In the now-viral post, Banerjee shared that they hiked through the viewpoint successfully, enjoying the picturesque view. However, on their descent, the journey took a dangerous turn when Nidhi slipped on the wet trail, spraining or possibly fracturing her ankle. Stranded in biting cold, with rain fast approaching and nearly four kilometers from the nearest road, the couple found themselves in a desperate situation. Encouraged by fellow hikers, he called Norway's emergency number, 113. 'About 4 kilometres from civilisation, biting cold winds, rain fast approaching and unable to move – I was at my wits end on what to do next. However fellow hikers asked me to call 113 – assuring me that help will reach us,' Banerjee shared on Instagram. What followed, he described, restored his faith in humanity. 'Within minutes, the responders had used my phone to pin my location and assured me help was on the way,' he said. 'In less than an hour, an army of mountain rescuers — accompanied by doctors — were with us.' The rescue team, part of Norwegian People's Aid (Norsk Folkehjelp), acted swiftly. They began with stabilising Nidhi's injury using a vacuum splint and carefully carried her down to base camp on a portable stretcher. 'They examined Nidhi – put her leg in a vacuum bag – opened up a portable stretcher – and 6 super-humans carted Nidhi all the way to the base camp. All with a smile,' he shared. Banerjee's concern about the cost of such a rescue was quickly eased when they learned that the team was volunteers offering their expertise for free. 'These were not paid professionals stationed at the park. They were ordinary working Norwegians who showed up when help was needed,' he wrote. Among them were a surveyor and a petroleum industry worker, people from different walks of life. For a country known for its harsh weather and long winters, Banerjee added, it's no wonder Norway consistently ranks as one of the happiest nations in the world. 'I don't believe in angels and fairies,' he wrote, 'but I encountered them myself in Norway. Still shaking my head in disbelief — and relief — that angels do exist.' See the post here: A post shared by Akash Banerjee (@ Banerjee's post has since gone viral, with social media users hailing the Norwegian volunteers. 'Beautiful country. Lovely, helpful people. So glad you got all the assistance you needed and more,' a user wrote. 'Glad all is well. Yes Norway and its people are amazing. Take care,' another user commented.
BreakingNews.ie
29-04-2025
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Bosnian centre trains dogs for Ukrainian demining efforts
Mey, a Belgian shepherd, and her trainer Kenan Muftic learned how to effectively detect mines and unexploded ordnance last week, negotiating various obstacles and scenarios in a grass field in Sarajevo's suburb of Butmir. Since its establishment in 2004, the Norwegian People's Aid Global Training Centre for Mine and Explosive Detection Dogs in Sarajevo has trained more than 500 dogs. The trained dogs have been deployed to conflict zones across the globe, including Cambodia, Zimbabwe and Iraq. Advertisement The centre has also sent 26 dogs to Ukraine, the world's most densely mined country according to a 2024 estimate by the United Nations and Ukrainian government. Soon after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Norwegian People's Aid sent dogs to assist in the effort to clear millions of mines and unexploded ordnance devices, Muftic said. In Ukraine, dogs from Butmir assist deminers in clearing fields in heavily affected regions such as Kharkiv in the northeast and Mykolaiv in the south. 'In some places, they are close to the front lines,' Mr Muftic said. Advertisement Landmines laid since Russia's 2022 invasion cost Ukraine over $11 billion in annual GDP, according to a 2024 report by Ukraine's Economy Ministry and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. Minefields and unexploded ordnance render vast agricultural areas inaccessible, slashing Ukraine's exports and tax revenue. Bosnia, still grappling with the legacy of its 1990s war, faces similar challenges. Data from Bosnia's Mine Action Centre in 2023 shows landmines planted across the country by Serb, Bosniac and Croat troops still affect around 15 per cent of the population. Specialised dogs are sometimes indispensable in clearing minefields. 'In demining, we say: one mine found, one family saved,' said Mr Muftic, who over the past 27 years has helped to clear thousands of mines and unexploded ordnance devices.
NDTV
29-04-2025
- General
- NDTV
How Dogs From Bosnia Are Helping Ukraine Clear Minefields
Sarajevo: Mey, a Belgian shepherd, and her trainer Kenan Muftic learned how to effectively detect mines and unexploded ordnance last week, negotiating various obstacles and scenarios in a grass field in Sarajevo's suburb of Butmir. Since its establishment in 2004, the Norwegian People's Aid Global Training Centre for Mine and Explosive Detection Dogs in Sarajevo has trained more than 500 dogs. The trained dogs have been deployed to conflict zones across the globe, including Cambodia, Zimbabwe and Iraq. The centre has also sent 26 dogs to Ukraine, the world's most densely mined country, according to a 2024 estimate by the United Nations and the Ukrainian government. Soon after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Norwegian People's Aid sent dogs to assist in the effort to clear millions of mines and unexploded ordnance devices, Muftic said. In Ukraine, dogs from Butmir assist deminers in clearing fields in heavily affected regions such as Kharkiv in the northeast and Mykolaiv in the south. "In some places, they are close to the front lines," Muftic said. Landmines laid since Russia's 2022 invasion cost Ukraine over $11 billion in annual GDP, according to a 2024 report by Ukraine's Economy Ministry and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. Minefields and unexploded ordnance render vast agricultural areas inaccessible, slashing Ukraine's exports and tax revenue. Bosnia, still grappling with the legacy of its 1990s war, faces similar challenges. Data from Bosnia's Mine Action Centre in 2023 shows landmines planted across the country by Serb, Bosniac and Croat troops still affect around 15% of the population. Specialised dogs are sometimes indispensable in clearing minefields. "In demining, we say: one mine found, one family saved," said Muftic, who over the past 27 years has helped to clear thousands of mines and unexploded ordnance devices.
