Lesson from Himalayan sister

The Nehru Institute of Mountaineering's experience in post-disaster reconstruction work at Kedarnath could help deal with the situation in floodhit Jammu and Kashmir.

The mountaineering institute is also a part of the Uttarakhand governmentconstituted Special Task Force involved in reconstruction work in the state.

Led by Colonel Ajay Kothiyal and his core team of six soldiers, the NIM is managing the reconstruction work in Kedarnath. The NIM began operation in Kedarnath in mid-March and is managing right from human resources, technical expertise to construction work.

The Uttarakhand government had also given the challenging task of constructing a new nine-km long trek from Rambara to Kedarnath to the Uttarkashi-based NIM.

Colonel Kothiyal and his team won praise from all quarters for constructing a new helipad, sheds, cottages and setting up a bailey bridge in record time.

Working in adverse and challenging conditions, the NIM is performing wonders in Kedarnath. "We consider the present weather less hostile than when we began the work, as there was heavy snowfall in March," Colonel Kothiyal recollected.

At present, 650 labourers are actively involved in Kedarnath reconstruction work. Besides the men, 600 mules are being used for transporting both food and construction material to the remote areas in Kedarnath.

After the Kedarnath disaster, the BSF had adopted 12 villages in the Kalimath Valley. The BSF personnel had also constructed a school, five community halls, embankment and three temporary helipads.