Meet the Mountain Man Who Started Rescuing Trekkers When He Was Just 13
Meet
the Mountain Man Who Started Rescuing Trekkers When He Was Just 13
He recollects, “I was a student of class 8 when I started
working as a tour guide, only so that I could support my family with some
income. By the time I was in class 10, my family’s financial condition had
gotten worse, and I was forced to quit school to work full time.”
Having
grown up in the valley, Ram Negi knows every route and nook and corner of the
place. This offers him a unique perspective.
“I know all the trek routes that exist here. If anyone takes
a wrong turn or goes wandering into another area, I can find them, one way or
another. Sometimes the trekkers are lucky, and we find them quickly, while at
other times some of the animals get to them before we do,” he shares.
Lack
of fear or is it just survival instinct?
While wild animals roam around freely in the dense valley, I
ask Ram Negi what makes him so fearless. “Fear was something that existed when
I started out. I was all of 13 then; today, I have rescued and seen so much
that there is no fear.”
“We
all have to die someday, at least until then I wish to do whatever I can, to
help others,” he says.
He shares he is more affected by the damage or loss to lives
in these mountains–but now after many years, he has grown numb to it.
A
rescue operation he will never forget
Other than the beauty, Parvati Valley is also infamous for
the abundance of cannabis that grows here, drawing many youngsters, who lack
proper training or knowledge of the routes.
He shares he is more affected by the damage or loss to lives
in these mountains–but now after many years, he has grown numb to it.
The lure of the drug is a powerful motivation, and people
land up without giving a second thought to their safety.
There
is also rampant drug abuse in the region – Ram Negi says he sees many cases of
teenagers losing control there.
Recounting a rescue operation, he says, “There was a time
when a large police force and army contingent descended upon the valley to
crack down on the illegal sale of cannabis. This was in 2004. Lost and
disoriented, many of them got stuck in the jungles. When I was intimated about
this, I started the rescue operation at 10 p.m. and by 9.00 a.m., had managed
to rescue them all.” His knowledge of the trails and the potential locations
where they could have wandered off helped him find them.
A doting
father and responsible family man
Ram Negi has a large family, which consists of his wife,
daughter, brother and family, parents, and grandparents.
The
clean mountain air and proximity to nature have blessed the people there with
longevity and good health.
He dotes on his daughter, “I enjoy the time I spend with
her. I often take her with me, and like me, she also knows all the nooks and
corners of the place.”
Seeking
better help from the government
It should be mentioned here that Ram Negi does not charge
for the services he has been giving for all these years. Money does not
motivate him, and there have been times when his family members give him money
for his rescue efforts. He shares, “I am a one-man army. I am doing all I can,
but there is much more that can be done with the right help.”
Setting
up a good system requires investment, and that is something that Ram Negi does
not have.
“The government that calls me so often to find people does
not even bother to check if my family and I are fine once the rescue is
completed,” he says with a tinge of pain
He states, “Each year on Independence and Himachal
day, the government invites me and gives me a certificate, but that is not what
I need. Better equipment is the immediate need that will help save so many more
lives.”
Almost in the same breath, he also says, “I look at this as
my duty – whether I get any support or not, I will continue to do what I have
been doing.”
He
shares some tips for potential trekkers to stay safe:
1. Check on the weather conditions before your trek.
2. Ensure that you are embarking on your trek only after
having understood the route options well.
3. Do not take an unexplored path if you are by yourself.
4. If feasible, always travel with another trekker or even
better, in a group.
5. Engage the services of an expert guide who will be able
to navigate and take you through a safe route.
6. Refrain from indulging in any illegal activities along
the route.
7. Do not embark on a trek if you are intoxicated.
8. Do try to return to your base after sunset. Staying out
alone might not be safe. Night travel must be avoided especially in the Parvati
Valley.
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