Father, son kayak from Banbasa to Ganga Sagar

Our Correspondent

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Pithoragarh, February 22

A father-son team has reached Ganga Sagar in Kolkata from Banbasa barrage on a kayak, taking the river voyage of over 2,000 km. The team of E Theophilus and his son Zanskar reached Howrah bridge on February 19 after crossing over 2,000 km on rivers in a kayak.

“The boat voyage, which began on November 24 last year from Banbasa barrage on Sharda river, reached Ganga Sagar on Hooghly river, which wound up the voyage,” said a press communique released at Munsiyari.

According to the press release, the purpose of this voyage was to take stock of aquatic treasure along the Ganga and its tributaries from Sharda to Saryu and Ghagra to Ganga. “We have also talked to residents living by these rivers, on their occupations, lives and daily routines and taken notes on the condition of residents dependent on these rivers and aquatic life in these rivers,” said the communique.

The Theo family includes his wife Mallika Birdi and son Zanskar, who had settled in Munsiyari, coming from Kerala in the year 1991. They have been active in environmental conservation in high Himalayan regions thereafter. “This 80-day voyage has equipped the family with knowledge to compare the state of conservation of high Himalayan animals with that of the aquatic animals in the Ganges,” said Ram Narayan, a personal assistant from the office of Theo in Munsiyari.