Wanderers return home after a venturous ride to Kargil War Memorial

After covering 6,000 km in 20 days, the 12 Hyderabadi

bikers

who set off for

Kargil

War Memorial in Drass on 14 July, have finally returned home. Titled ‘Flag Ride Phase 4’, the trip was a thanksgiving gesture by the bikers of ‘

Wanderers

’ to the Indian armed forces for their selfless services to the nation. “It was a fascinating experience to spend the Kargil

Vijay Diwas

with the armed forces in Drass. We presented the Indian Army Commander and his troops with a memento for putting the nation before their own lives,” says Pavan Goda, the leader of the team.

Braving incessant rains and battling health issues
The journey was ridden with unprecedented challenges. “One of the biggest problems we faced on the road was the rain. We rode amid incessant rain while passing through Maharashtra, Punjab and Delhi. The wind was fierce. The rain finally stopped in Manali only to pave way for bad roads. Most of these were mountain roads and their condition worsened with continuous rain in the region,” says Pavan, adding that all the riders had to maintain a speed of 20-40 kmph throughout the long stretch. That wasn’t all. “Most of us were not used to eating North Indian dhaba food. It definitely took a toll on our tummies. In Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh, we had to stop for five hours when one of us fell ill,” says Praveen Gandamalla.

A breathtaking ride, literally
Riding at high altitudes was another ballgame altogether. Praveen says, “All of us are typical South Indian guys who are not accustomed to riding in extreme mountain conditions. Most of us showed symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness — dizziness, nausea and headache. The oxygen level was just around 51-62 per cent and it was difficult for us to breathe.” however, he adds that despite all odds, the ride through the barren terrains of Leh and Ladakh was a splendid experience. A landslide enroute the Lamayuru road to Kargil, forced them to spend a night at a police check-post. “we panicked ’cos we wanted to make it to Drass the next day. Thankfully, we reached at 1:30 pm on the day of celebrations. The armymen were surprised when we told them we were travelling from Hyderabad just to celebrate Vijay Diwas with them. They received our memento and lauded our endeavour,” adds Pavan.

Hurdles with security forces
On their way back, a new set of obstacles, were in store. “We were stopped at a check post by the J&K police, some 30 to 40 km ahead of Srinagar. They didn’t allow us to pass through. They also thought it was unwise to ride with the Indian flag tied to our bikes because the situation in the city wasn’t very conducive,” says Pavan. After spending the night in Srinagar, the group set out in the morning, only to be stopped at the Indian Army check post. Owing to Amarnath Yatra, the army personnel said the security in the city had been beefed up. Following the orders of the army personnel, the bikers rode with a convoy of 40-50 military vehicles that were passing by. Praveen says, “After crossing Anantnag, things became smooth. We travelled through the local villages; it was an amazing experience. Though the security arrangements were a little heavy, the locals were very happy to see us,” he says.