Image via WikipediaJust after my marriage I posted to Nefa now called Arunachal Pradesh. My unit was stationed at Sela Pass at a height of 4250 m. approx. You can understand my feelings if you have ever been in a situation like this.
We had to report for duty at 'unearthly' hour of 7 am. We were located in a bowl like depression surrounded by high mountains. The sun used to rise well after 10 am and that too only for a brief spell. After light warming up exercises we practiced gun drill with our howitzers. After about two hours we used to break off for tea.
Image by BOMBMAN via Flickr It was the middle of June but the weather here was extremely chilly. As usual, we had been practicing the gun drill with our howitzers in the morning, in the knee deep snow.
We had to report for duty at 'unearthly' hour of 7 am. We were located in a bowl like depression surrounded by high mountains. The sun used to rise well after 10 am and that too only for a brief spell. After light warming up exercises we practiced gun drill with our howitzers. After about two hours we used to break off for tea.
Image by BOMBMAN via Flickr It was the middle of June but the weather here was extremely chilly. As usual, we had been practicing the gun drill with our howitzers in the morning, in the knee deep snow. At about 11 a.m. the weather suddenly turned from bad to worse. Soon it started snowing heavily. We sprinted back to our bunkers. We were as happy as the children who suddenly are told by the teacher that there shall be no classes today.
Image by freebird (bobinson|ബോബിന്സണ്) via FlickrIn an effort to warm ourselves we struggled to light our 'samovars' to warm up the bunker but the wood was not sufficiently dry.A colleague suggested that we pour 'rum' over the twigs to help them burn, but all in vain. We were unable to make ourselves even a cup of tea.
Thus disappointed and teeth chattering we decided to get into our beds and play cards. Maj. Ravi warned us not to do so since it was still the duty hours. He warned us it was against the rules.
Ravi was a 'pakka fauji' who never tolerated any deviation from the discipline for which we often jeered at him as 'an OG mind' an acronym for 'Olive green' the colour of our Army uniform.
Thus frustrated we put on some extra blankets and started singing loudly our favourite Hindi film song 'aa ja sanam madhur chandni mein hum tum miley to veerane mein bhi aa jayegi bahar' to wash away our blues. We were waiting for the skies to open up.
Soon it was dark and the snow was falling intermittantly. There was no let up in the snow storm. To make it worse we had also exhausted our weekly quota of rum. Thoroughly frustrated we curled up in our beds and tried to go to sleep but in vain.
We were suddenly startled by strange noises in the middle of the night. The sounds were coming faintly right beyond the corrugated sheets which served as the gate of our bunker. It seemed someone was digging and trying to remove the snow. We tried to leave our beds in order to find out the matters. Our blankets and 'rajais' were thoroughly wet and heavy. There was a furious storm and snowflakes had blown in from the chinks almost burying us under the snow. There had been a severe avalanche in the evening burying our bunker partially with snow.
Our colleagues who were lucky to have escaped were furiously digging the snow with shovels and pickaxes. All of us heaved a sigh of relief on being rescued. We thanked our stars for being alive and hugged friends in gratitude.
(Copyright of photos belongs to the respective owners)
---daman
09/08/2011
Image by freebird (bobinson|ബോബിന്സണ്) via FlickrIn an effort to warm ourselves we struggled to light our 'samovars' to warm up the bunker but the wood was not sufficiently dry.A colleague suggested that we pour 'rum' over the twigs to help them burn, but all in vain. We were unable to make ourselves even a cup of tea.Thus disappointed and teeth chattering we decided to get into our beds and play cards. Maj. Ravi warned us not to do so since it was still the duty hours. He warned us it was against the rules.
Ravi was a 'pakka fauji' who never tolerated any deviation from the discipline for which we often jeered at him as 'an OG mind' an acronym for 'Olive green' the colour of our Army uniform.
Thus frustrated we put on some extra blankets and started singing loudly our favourite Hindi film song 'aa ja sanam madhur chandni mein hum tum miley to veerane mein bhi aa jayegi bahar' to wash away our blues. We were waiting for the skies to open up.
Soon it was dark and the snow was falling intermittantly. There was no let up in the snow storm. To make it worse we had also exhausted our weekly quota of rum. Thoroughly frustrated we curled up in our beds and tried to go to sleep but in vain.
We were suddenly startled by strange noises in the middle of the night. The sounds were coming faintly right beyond the corrugated sheets which served as the gate of our bunker. It seemed someone was digging and trying to remove the snow. We tried to leave our beds in order to find out the matters. Our blankets and 'rajais' were thoroughly wet and heavy. There was a furious storm and snowflakes had blown in from the chinks almost burying us under the snow. There had been a severe avalanche in the evening burying our bunker partially with snow.
Our colleagues who were lucky to have escaped were furiously digging the snow with shovels and pickaxes. All of us heaved a sigh of relief on being rescued. We thanked our stars for being alive and hugged friends in gratitude.
(Copyright of photos belongs to the respective owners)
---daman
09/08/2011
4 comments:
Ek hum hai jo halke hawa k thapedo se kaap jate hain,
aur ek wo the jinhone hawayein cheer kar apna raasta banaya tha.
These are two lines just written which are dedicated to u and to all ur friends who showed such courage.
With regards
Shiv.
There is a saying 'when the going gets tough the tough get going'
Thanks dear Shiv
Wah! Papaji you must upload more of your interesting story... I enjoyed reading it....... The best was when you guys were singing song'Aaja sanam madur chandni mein hum....' made me laugh...
great work....
Regards
sippy..
This song used to be our favorite song, just like a regimental marching song. 'Chandni' or 'no Chandani' this song used to bring cheer to our lovelorn and homesick hearts. Thanks for liking it,Sippy.
...daman
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