NO news of JNU hikers in RANN of Kutch

The group set out on January 22 and reached Ahemdabad the next day. From there they were to take a bus or train, depending on what was available, to Bhuj. According to the tentative itinerary they were then to get off at Rapar and start the trek. On 25th evening they were to reach Dhaulavir, which is supposed to be the biggest site of the Harappan civilisation.

The trekkers were to leave for Bhuj from Dhaulavir on January 26 evening. However, in the face of the catastrophic earthquake to hit the area on the morning of 26th no one is sure of where they are or even how closely were they following their itinerary.

With no clue on the whereabouts of the trekkers their families back home are getting worried. One youth’s family is in Assam and are going out of their minds because of the uncertainty of the situation but are completely helpless as they are sitting far away. They have contacted a relative in Delhi to try and get some information on their son. But it is going to be a long wait unless the trekkers themselves get in touch.

However, Saurabh Vikas, secretary of the mountaineering club is not too worried. “There are at least five members who are extremely experienced trekkers. Moreover, we always undertake a 10 day physical training camp before the trek and send only those who we deem fit enough,” he says.

Another reason for his lack of panic, he explains, is that the time of the earthquake was such that the trekkers would have been on the move. And since they were in a flat open desert area there are few chaces of any trees, rocks or buildings collapsing or hurting anyone. “Also there is heavy deployment of paramilitary forces in that area and so help is close at hand,” he explains.

The university authorities have left messages at the emergency cell in Gandhinagar and are now waiting to be contacted.

The mountaineering club likes to trek to uncovered and unchartered territory. And this time their wish has probably come true. These treks are a regular feature and around four are conducted annually on an average.