Triumph of the human spirit is seen when humans, despite great odds, rise above. For instance, people of New York City pulling together and pulling the city back to order after 9/11 reflects a triumph of human spirit. Closer home the example of Tehri Garhwal on the southern slopes of outer Himalayas.
In June last year, a multi-day cloudburst here caused devastating floods and landslides, the worst natural disaster since the 2004 tsunami. Destruction of bridges and roads left thousands of pilgrims and tourists trapped in the valleys and Char Dham pilgrimage sites. The Indian Air Force, the Army, and paramilitary troops, Border Road Organization rendered laudable service in rescue and restoration work. Braving the rigors of extreme weather conditions, these forces also keep their vigil on the encroachment- prone international borders. We salute their spirit of sacrifice.
People in the region bank upon eco-tourism and yatras; but both the segments have suffered setbacks this year due to reduced footfalls. The locals believe that the oft- repeated images of Ganga’s fury in TV Channels might be playing in the minds of pilgrims. Our long drive up to Mana, the last Indian village before the China border, was hassle free. The sign boards “No race, no rally, just enjoy the valley” are befitting the season that has just unfolded in the region in May.
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