Crisis Management Through Sports

Rafters could be helpful to people in distress during floods writes Mohamad Yousuf

Satisar, present Kashmir, was one of the largest water bodies in the sub-continent in ancient times. Mobility in water was difficult. For navigation, travelling or transporting goods from place to place, people used a flat floating structure made of logs. For carrying timber from far off places like Baramulla and Anantnag etc the people were tying logs with each other and row it to Srinagar till recent years. This type of wooden structure is called raft. Rafting, therefore, is not a new thing to Kashmir.

Initially rafting was a human need but with the passage of time it became an adventure sport, in which people paddle an inflatable raft down a fast-flowing and turbulent river, running over heavy rapids, deep holes, continuous waves and chutes etc . Rafting is a convenient way to travel into beautiful, remote areas that may otherwise be difficult to reach. Whitewater rafting has today become a popular recreational activity around the world. In India, Nepal and other neighboring countries this sport has become increasingly popular. Rafting is now a recognized competitive sport. Competitions are regularly held at national and international levels in many countries. Our own state does not lag behind in this growing tourist outdoor pursuit.

Modern river rafting first came to J&K perhaps in the year 1976 when an Indo-German expedition was launched on river Indus in Ladakh by Col. N. Kumar, accompanied by 2 Germans, Captain M.S. Kohli and a local Ski Instructor, Mr. Abdul Aziz Wani. It created world record when the team paddled down from 14,000 ft to 9,000 ft. Pertinently, the expedition was personally supervised by Late Jenab Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who was an avid Swimmer. After importing modern rafting equipment the Tourism Department initiated rafting programmes in Ladakh and Jammu. The J&K Youth Services and Sports also organized first and only river rafting training camp for school boys at Leh about 15 years back. In 1988 the Indo-USA team succeeded in the first and last successful attempt of the “Chenab” where members of the expedition were from Kashmir valley as well with Mr. Asaf Mehmood as its group leader. Many travel companies’ later organized commercial rafting expeditions on Indus and Zanaskar rivers from time to time. One such expedition was led by Mr. Rouf Tramboo. But till 1998 nobody seriously attempted Kashmir Rivers. Whitewater rafting was virtually introduced among masses in the valley by Kashmir University when they organized first-ever rafting training camp for its 30 students on the waters of Sindh in Sonamarg in the year 1998. They explored Baltal-Shitkari stretch, which is now considered the best place for training novices. Since then the University is regularly organizing training camps here. Many students, trained by the University, have participated in various national and international level championships on river Ganges, Satluj, Indus and Zanasakar. They have also braved some trecherous stretches of river Chenab and Suru etc. This writer got the opportunity to participate in an International Rafting Expedition on river Trisuli in Nepal in 1998. Today we have 13 Commercial Rafting Companies operating in Kashmir. Due to tourism failure this year these companies are fighting for survival and need incentives from Tourism Department.

Wildwater Rafting has come of age in the J&K State now. With the aim to further promote and develop this sport the Directorate of Tourism has come up with innovative programmes. Under the able guidance of Mr. Farooq Shah the Tourism department has successfully organized two National Rafting Championships in Ladakh Himalayas in 2005 and 2007, Ist State Rafting Championship at Pahalgam in 2007 and this year in July they organized First Kashmir Cup International Rafting Championship at Sonamarg. This was the largest International Rafting Championship ever held in India. It was in fact a harbinger of new era of wildwater sports in Kashmir. Such activities of international level will give significant boost to the ongoing efforts for promotion of adventure tourism in the state.

In the year 2004 some ex-students of Kashmir University formed Whitewater Rafting Association in Srinagar. The Association is presently led by Mr. Farooq Shah, Director Tourism. Under his dynamic leadership the Association rose to great heights in a short span of time. The Association was closely associated with State, national and International Rafting Championships, sponsored by Tourism Department for last two years. Besides national championships, the Association has regularly participated in India Cup International Rafting Championships from 2004 to 2007. It is also recipient of “Best Supporting team award” bestowed to it by the Indian Rafting Foundation in Himachal Pradesh.

Crisis Management programme of the WWRAJK:

Humans were caught by natural calamities and catastrophes from time immemorial. They did not know how to tackle the devastating situations or undertake rescue operation. But with the advent of modern technologies it became possible to rescue victims without much human loss. Crisis Management Departments are set up both at Centre and State Governments all over the country but unfortunately they could not properly execute their duty during emergencies due to lack of infrastructure and trained manpower. The sportsmen, who are fearless and are physically fit community, particularly the adventurers, could be useful for such rescue operations. Usually a Sports Association is dedicated to the development of sports in which it is involved but there are some special associations which could additionally extend help to the society in different manners like Marshal Art Associations can teach self defense to girls. Similarly, Rafters could help people in distress during floods, Skiers during snow storms or avalanches, climbers in fire fighting and rescue operations and swimmers in life saving etc. But to our dismay they have neglected this aspect of social work merely because they have not been educated about it by the Crisis Management Dep’t. To take a lead in this direction the Whitewater Rafting Association of J&K has decided to raise a Crisis Management team which would extend its help to the people in distress during floods in and outside the valley. The Association President, Mr. Farooq Shah advised the committee to arrange a training camp in which the members are trained to life saving, rescue work, first-aid, navigation and other related subjects which are useful to them for helping the people, trapped in the floods. The Committee agreed to procure some modern inflatable rafts made of Hypalon, which will be used for training local youth to rafting and crisis management programmes. These rafts generally range from 10 feet to 18 feet in length and carry anywhere from 4 to 13 people. For safety purposes rafts have six or seven separate air chambers, so that in case of a puncture the raft will remain afloat. Today we have self bailing boats which allow water to quickly drain out. Using traditional wooden boats (Shikaras) during floods could be very risky as it doesn’t have capacity to carry heavy loads and self bailing ability. Once the water enters in such boats it suddenly capsizes and could be fatal for flood victims at times. The wooden boats can never be useful on turbulent or fast flowing waters. The Crisis Management Department must involve NGOs for rescue work and provide them financial assistance for raising required equipment. There are many Sports Associations which are ready to extend help to State Crisis Management Department during floods, snow storms, and devastating fires etc. Not only Crisis Management Mr. Farooq Shah advised the Committee to organize a Seminar and a Boat Rally on river Jhelum to create awareness about the preservation of water bodies in the state, which is certainly a laudable idea of Mr. Shah.

Published on 25h November 2008 in the Daily Rising Kashmir, Srinagar

Some Aero Sports That Suite The Valley

 By Mohamad Yousuf

Humans have always dreamed to be up in the air and fly high like a bird. With the advent of aero sports it made possible for them to release their ambition. The aero sports, until now the exclusive preserve of Armed Forces, are now open to anyone willing to partake of it. There are different types of aero sports, such as Hot air ballooning, Hang gliding, Power gliding, Microlight flying, Parachuting/Sky diving, Paragliding and Parasailing etc. In India these sports are controlled by an apex body called Aero Club of India, New Delhi. The main aim of the Club is to promote, develop, regulate and organize aero sports in its all forms in India. In J&K State these sports were looked after by the J&K Aero Sports Association which is defunct now for some time due to financial constraints and step brotherly treatment given to it by the J&K State Sports Council.

Jammu and Kashmir being a sensitive place the aero sports could not find any place in civil sports community and remained confined to military organizations till recent years. Since J&K is a Himalayan state where natural facilities are available for conducting the Paragliding on land and snow, Hang Gliding, parasailing on land and water and Hot air ballooning etc. These sports have tremendous scope in our tourism industry. The intended tourists would certainly love to undertake pleasure flights here, if necessary facilities are made available to them. An ex students of Kashmir University, Murad Bhat had started commercial Paragliding at Sonamarg but surprisingly instead of giving him any incentive the Sonamarg Development Authority charged him huge royalty which led to the closure of this scintillating tourist product there. This is a wrong policy of development authorities to charge royalties to such innovative adventure tourism activities

With the persuasion of two local aero sports enthusiasts, Mr. Jameel Shaheen and the writer, the Aero Club of India, New Delhi granted affiliation to J&K Aero Sports Association way back in 1996 but alas! the J&K State Sports Council did not recognize it till to date, even though some financial assistance was provided to the Association for organizing some Para Skiing and Aqua Parasailing training courses for novices at Gulmarg and Dal Lake respectively. The Sports Council also sponsored the participation of a four member delegation of the Association in a Symposium on “Parachute and Lighter than Air System Technologies” organized by the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment at Agra in January 1997. For rendering better services to the society the President of the Aero Association was taken as a member on the Executive Committee of the Sports Council.

It is pertinent to mention here that the amateur aero sports were first brought to Jammu and Kashmir state by Shri Vishwa Bandhu Gupta, President of Ballooning Club of India when he organized a breath taking demonstration of Hot Air Ballooning in Srinagar which was followed by a more challenging Hot Air Ballooning expedition from Leh to Kanayakumari in mid seventies remember the then Chief Minister of J&K, Dr. Farooq Abdullah also undertook a pleasure ride in a Hot Air Balloon with Shri Vishwa Bandhu but Dr. Sahib surprised all spectators when he landed on a tree near Badami Bagh Cantonment.

Hang Gliding is very popular sport in our neighboring state Himachal Pradesh where training camps and competitions are regularly held for the tourists but it remained out of focus of the authorities in our state. The Tourism department could not exploit this sector in the valley. A variation of soaring, hang gliding has been popular since 1970s. Hang Gliders are constructions resembling kites, from which the flier is suspended by means of a harness and supported by a trapezlike frame. It is competitive sport and International Championships are held regularly in this sport. District Budgam is ideal place for this sport where we have well laid roads leading to the tops of VADER. For this type of sport we need mechanical transportation to carry heavy hang gliders from base to the top of the ridge.

Escalation of Paragliding and Parasailing in Kashmir:

Paragliding is a sport in which somebody, called Pilot or paratrooper, jumps from an aircraft or runs down a hill/ridge against the wind direction wearing a rectangular shaped canopy that allows control of direction in the descent to the ground. The alpine paragliding is more popular in Europe and is catching up fast all over the world. The paragliding canopies are lighter and one can easily carry them to high mountain tops and passes where from a pilot can easily take flight and soar in the air for hours. Paragliding is also possible on snow covered slopes and ridges but one must be a good skier. This kind of paragliding is called Para Skiing. It combines the tenacity and stamina required for climbing snow covered mountains on skis with the thrill of flying from mountain tops. Wind is the most important factor for paragliding which after filling its cells and complete inflation the parachute starts gliding at the end of the free fall.

The paragliding canopies offer significantly higher controllability and efficiency. The controls are achieved mainly by manipulating the rear rigging lines. It also provides pin point dropping. Military organizations utilize them for life saving, and dropping personnel, stores, explosives, and payloads with high reliability and accuracy. The parachutes consists of two layers of almost nil porosity fiber with intervening aerofil shaped ribs, making cells. These parachutes have turn rate 10 – 12 seconds for a turn of 360 degree. A pilot hovers in Figure Of Eight style for pin drop landing. While landing it has forward speed of 40 kmph. To cut the speed a pilot lands in the opposite direction of the wind. Alpine Paragliding can be operated from 300 meter to 10,500 m or more in fare weather. Right and left turns can be executed quickly by pulling appropriate control lines. The landing impact is soft comparing other Para jumping events.

Alpine Paragliding is an adventure as well as a competitive sport. This sport of paragliding was first introduced in Kashmir valley by the J&K Ski and Mountaineering Association way back in May 1988 when this sport perhaps did not exist anywhere in the sub-continent. The Swiss team of Alpine Flugschule, Lotschental comprising Mr. Rudi Thomi, Miss Susi and Mr. Walter first trained four members of JKSMA, Mehraj-ud-Din, Firdous Khan, Rouf Tramboo and the writer who later explored Aru (Pahalgam), Thajewas (Sonamarg) and Ahrabal etc. The Swiss experts also undertook a flight from Zabarvan hill in Srinagar and after hovering over Dal Lake they successfully landed in Cheshmashahi garden amidst of hundreds of tourists. This sport is also gaining popularity in Himachal Pradesh and is becoming increasingly popular all over the world. In the year 1997 the Jammu Tourism Department procured about a dozen of Paragliding canopies but these remained unused for most of the time The JKSMA owns two such canopies which they use for training local youth and the students of Kashmir University etc. The J&KASA conducted first Para skiing course at Gulmarg in 1998.

The J&K Aero Sports Association conducted and initiated for the first time, in J&K state, Aqua Parasailing camp under the name and style “Para Dal-1998” on Dal Lake. The main aim for going through with that activity was to foster, amongst local youth a spirit of aero sports. No advance training or special skill is needed and the sport is not expensive. Enthusiasts of this sport can share the excitement without any risk. Under an open parasail they swing in the air through the aid of a special rope of 100 meter length hooking it to a very powerful Motorboat (when flying over water) or jeep (when flying on lane). As the jeep/motor boat moves, the Para sail (round shaped Canopy) open up and flier goes airborne within minutes. The landing is safe both on land and water. This is a cheapest and safest of all aero sports activities which permit humans to fly. It is amazing that a ten year old Biscoe Boy, Obaid Yousuf undertook a parasailing ride over Dal Lake in the year 1999.He set record of being youngest parasailer of the state. He was later felicitated and awarded a cash prize of Rs.1000/-by his school.

Published in Rising Kashmir on 16th Nov. 2008

A Hidden Play-Field for Adventure Sports

By Mohamad Yousuf

Sonamarg is set high in the Sindh valley before the Westward flow of the river is turned south to the vale of Kashmir. At this point it cuts through a line of igneous rock running North-West to South-East, weathered and firm. Nichnai and Thajewas Valleys form North and South run alongside these harder strata to join the Sindh just below Sonamarg. Sonamarg is not simply a picnic spot and a base for Amarnath yatra but it is a wonderful hidden play-field for different adventure sports. It is also one of the best places to study flora, fauna and avi-fauna of the state but unfortunately it has always remained out of focus of the Government and tourist players. They have always neglected it. Comparing Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Patnitop etc. little attention has been paid towards its development.

It is laudable that the Director Tourism (Kashmir), Mr. Farooq Shah has come up with brilliant plans to put this hidden treasure on International adventure map. Conduct of first-ever Kashmir Cup International Rafting Championship at Sonamarg in July this year is a step in the right direction and a good beginning to promote this neglected destination. To exploit its potential in other pursuits Tourism Department should organize similar competitions in other adventure sports in near future. It is heartening that the Tourism Department is planning to build an artificial Rock Wall in Srinagar soon which would certainly help to inculcate and encourage a spirit of climbing among local youth. Efforts are afoot to make the Sport Climbing an indoor competitive Olympic discipline.

The Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA), led by Mr. Bakshi Javid Hamayun, is also putting its efforts to develop the infrastructure and bring it at par with other famous resorts of the state. It remains cut off from rest of the state for longer periods during winter. Once the Border Roads Organization makes the “Z” Morh Tunnel from Hung to Shitkari, Sonamarg will become one of the best all season tourist destinations. The S.D.A has some proposals in hand like construction of a Tourist Reception Centre, Yatri Niwas and Sonamarg Club etc. Development of a beautiful Camp site near Thajewas, Island Resort near Hung and Fish pond near Nilgrath etc are praise worthy steps taken by S.D.A for providing better facilities and picnic spots to intended day tourists but they must now discourage rising of such huge concrete dwellings in this picturesque resort. There is a need of paying more attention towards promotion of adventure tourism at Sonamarg for which natural facilities are available here.

Adventure Tourism is in fact thrust area in the tourism sector of our state. Sonamarg is an enchanting land of “Burf, Pani Aur Pahar”which are the basic ingredients for exciting, thrilling, fascinating and scintillating Extreme Mountain Sports. The people at helm of affair in the Schools, Colleges, Universities and NGOs etc must permit the student and non-student youths to make fullest use of these natural facilities. There is also a need of holding regular adventure training camps and expeditions at this Golden Meadow by these Institutions. This writer had moved a proposal to the University to conduct first-ever Adventure Expo-2008 for College and University students which was very kindly approved by the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor but the Directorate of Physical Education ignored the orders. Should the orders were implemented various adventure activities like Rafting, Snow Skiing, Rock-Climbing, Mountain Biking, Zorbing, Paragliding, and trekking etc. would have been simultaneously conducted in which nearly 250 boys and girls were to participate. It would have helped state promote much needed adventure tourism here and the students would have been benefited in many ways. It was best opportunity for the University to earn name and fame in the field of adventure sports. It is also a daunting responsibility of Travel Agents and other tourism players to sell Sonamarg for youth tourism which offers following adventure sports products. Pertinently, Hon’ble Governor of J&K, Shri N.N. Vohra has been closely associated with the Indian Mountaineering Foundation and has helped a lot in developing mountain sports in the country. The adventurers and explorers of the state have full hope that he would encourage adventure in this Himalayan state.

Trekking:

Sonamarg has a wild mountain beauty and offers wide variety of low and high altitude trekking. It is base for many treks with the duration ranging from 1 to 10 days. One can undertake a circular trek to Amarnath Cave; Bandipora; Gurez and Telail which can be further extended to Bandipora via Zadkhusi; Darss; Pahalgam via Yemhar pass and another via Kantar nag etc. A trek from Thajiwas leads to Kolahoi peak via Bear Valley, Baraf Sar and Rock Island. The most interesting is one to high altitude Himalayan lakes of Vishensar, Krishensar, Gadsar, Nundkol and Gangabal etc which are at height ranging from 11000 feet to 14000 feet above sea level and have bluish-green crystal clear water, well stocked with trout fish. There is no other place in the entire Himalayas which has more than 55 high altitude lakes within a distance of about 60 kilometers.

One can also undertake day treks from Sonamarg to Ludderwas, Eagle’s Nest, Nilgrath and Sarbal, Baltal, Amaranth cave, Lashi Pathri, Nichnai, Thajiwas, Zabnar, Hapatnar and Kazim ridge etc. Zabnar, 4040 mtr. high above sea level makes a splendid day walk and provides one of the finest view points in the area for peaks such as Nanga Parbat (also known as killer mountain situated in Gilgat), Nun & Kun peaks of Zanaskar massif, Amarnath and other peaks of Ladakh Himalayas.

Mountaineering:

Sonamarg is considered a mountaineering and rock climbing paradise. Some of the best mountaineering and rock-climbing is in Thajiwas or in the Sogput Dhar, a line of peaks west of the Nichnai Nar. The rock is igneous of the Punjab volcanic series. In the north of Sonamarg village, the summits are yellow and grey and dolomitic in appearance but utterly fragile and more resembling the scenery of Ladakh. There are some long and more technical rock faces at Shitkari as well where the High Altitude Warfare School is regularly conducting its training camps. Other organizations like Kashmir University, Tourism Department and Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering have been active in the area for some time. The J&K Mountaineering and Hiking Club have done pioneering work in the development of mountaineering in J&K since 1936 but are now totally defunct.

Thajiwas is also called “the valley of Glaciers”. Before independence there were six fairly well defined glaciers here but today we have few. Due to heat Glacier 5 has reduced to a tongue of ice into the main valley. These glaciers offer great challenge for Ice Climbing. Institutions and Clubs can teach different Ice-Crafting techniques to their trainees here. There are number of challenging peaks at Thajiwas which include Umbrella Peak, 4798 meters, Cefn Carnedo, 4800 meters, Innominate, 4900 meters, Mosquito peak, 4612 meter, Valehead peaks, 4758 meters, Crystal peak and Blade/Arrow, 4830 meters. Etc.

Winter Sports:

Sonamarg receives heavy snowfall during winter but unfortunately it remains cut off from rest of the state during winter due to frequent avalanches, rolling down the gullies and ridges from Shitkari to Gagangir area thereby making it impossible to conduct any winter sports activity here. A French skier, Sylvain Saudan, explored the area on helicopter nearly two decades back and found the area, particularly Gund and Kulun, ideal for Heli-Skiing. A large number of European Heli-Skiers have zoomed down here many virgin passes, ridges and long ski runs covered with fantastic powder snow.

In late April, May, June and July, it is possible to ski the whole Thajiwas Nar. Glacier 6 is not crevassed and provides good ski runs from April to July. Glacier 3 would make a fine ski-mountaineering expedition to the peaks “Valehead” and “Umbrella”. A Ski team, including the writer, of J&K Ski & Mountaineering Association (JKSMA) undertook first reconnaissance expedition to Thajiwas glaciers in May 1988. The team along with some Swiss experts also undertook ski tour to Hapatnar. The JKSMA organized yet another ski-touring and Paragliding demonstration in Sonamarg in May 2006 in collaboration with S.D.A. Besides writer, the other senior members of the Association, Rouf Tramboo, Firdous Khan, Mushtaq Pampori and Showkat Puttoo etc took part in this great demonstration. The then C.E.O, SDA, Mr. Nazir Ahmad extended his full support to the Association to make the event a grand success. The NDTV made a live coverage of this demonstration. Once the road to Sonamarg becomes all weather roads it will become second best ski resort of Himalayas after Gulmarg. There is also possibility of operating tobogganing, sledging, Snowboarding, Cross-Country skiing and other snow and Ice Sports in Sonamarg.

White Water Sports:

River Sindh in Sonamarg offers to host white water sports, such as rafting, kayaking and Canoeing, on its gushing waters from Baltal to Shitkari with Grade 1 to 4 rapids. One can further extend his rafting trip up to Ganderbal if he does portage at Hung/Shitkari for about 2 kilometers. Some huge rocks are lying in the middle of the river here, thus creating a big hazard and makes it impossible to run down the river in this stretch. Should someone arrange blasting of these huge rocks the river Sindh would offer one of the best and long commercials rafting/Kayaking trip straight from Baltal to Ganderbal passing through picturesque and lovely countryside of north Kashmir. The regular Rafting training courses were started first by the University of Kashmir from 1998. Some University trained students have participated in many National and International Rafting Championships in the past and some have started commercial rafting companies at Pahalgam and Sonamarg.

Other allied adventure sports:

Not only terrestrial sports, Sonamarg is ideal for aero and other allied sports. There is best and constant wind condition for Paragliding and Parasailing at Baltal, Sonamarg and Thajiwas areas. Paragliding is a competitive as well as adventure sport and can be played in summer and in winter too on snow slopes. It was first introduced in Sonamarg by J&KSMA with the help of a Swiss Aero Sports School in May 1988. The team took first flight from Glacier 2 to the Thajiwas base which was in fact first flight of its kind in the subcontinent. Paragliding was newly invented sport at those days. After a lapse of 18 years the Association organized second Paragliding demonstration at Sonamarg near JKTDC Dormitory in April 2006. Paragliding has now become a commercial tourist product at Sonamarg.

Sonamarg could also offer a host of many other allied adventure sports like Zorbing, Mountain Biking, Snow Cycling, Grass Skiing at Ludarwas and Sarbal, Angling (fishing) at different beats in river Sindh and high altitude lakes and Orienteering. Orienteering is a Cross-Country race involving map reading. Competitors make their way through unfamiliar mountain terrain using a compass and a topographical map. There is also possibility of introducing Scree Running in Krishensar/Vishensar areas. Scree is an accumulation of rock debris on a mountain or hill. Scree Running is a method of descending gravelly slope. There are a number of naturally groomed scree slopes with fine small loose stones on them.

The above established facts clearly prove that Sonamarg is an amazing and magnificent place for round the year adventures. No other resort has its comparison. Let us vow to protect this hidden treasure for our future generations.

Published in two parts on 2nd November, 2008 and 9th November, 2008 by Daily Rising Kashmir