River rafting expedition flagged off

Our Correspondent

Manali, March 21

The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS), Manali, today flagged off a river rafting expedition under the leadership of Capt Randhir Singh Salhuria, Director of the institute.

This is the first time when the institute is launching such an expedition from Manali to Aut covering approximately 100 km in the Beas.

Senior water sports instructor Rakesh Walia, water sports instructor Deepak Thakur, water sports instructor Gimnar and 12 others are members of the expedition. Water sports instructor Gimnar is the guide for the expedition.

The aim of the expedition is to study the river course for commercial rafting and exposure to officials of the institute. Furthermore, it also aims to create awareness about clean water and preservation of ecosystem.

On the occasion of the flag-off ceremony, Capt Randhir Singh Salhuria said the institute had been promoting rafting for many years. The institute recently concluded a rafting course. In this course, there were 27 trainees, including nine trainees from the Indian Air Force, two from Jammu and Kashmir and the rest were from various parts of Himachal.