NUNWAN, PAHALGAM, JAMMU & KASHMIR PAHALGAM SANASAR BHADERWAH SHEY (LADAKH) COURSE REPORT BASIC MOUNTAINEERING COURSE SERIAL No.102 FROM 01 JUL 2013 TO 26 JUL 2013 Tel FAX: 01936-243129 Mob: 9419045194, 9906967820 JAWAHAR INSTITUTE OF MOUNTAINEERING & WINTER SPORTS, NUNWAN, PAHALGAM JAMMU-KASHMIR-192126 JIM/75/TGC/12-13- Oct 2013 Additional Director General of Police, SDRF/Home Guard /CD & Aux. Police J&K, Srinagar COURSE REPORT BASIC MOUNTAINEERING/ SEARCH & RESCUE COURSE -102 Madam, 1. A copy of General Course Report of Basic Mountaineering / Search & Rescue Course serial No.102 conducted by this Institute for SDRF personnel (BN 1st & 2nd ) is enclosed for your information and necessary action please. 2. Kindly ack. Yours Sincerely (Virinder Singh) Colonel Principal (JIM & WS) Copy to: 1. Director General of Police, Police Headquarters, Srinagar –J&K : For info. 2. Joint Secretary (G/Air), D (HMI), South Block Ministry of Defence, New Delhi-11 : -do- 3. Commissioner /Secretary Tourism, Govt. of J&K, Civil Secretariat Srinagar : -do- 4. Commandant SDRF, 1st BN, Barzulla, Srinagar : -do- 5. Commandant SDRF, 2nd BN, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu : -do- 6. DFA, Defence Finance, Room No. 11-B, South Block, New Delhi-11 : -do- 7. Institute library. GENERAL COURSE REPORT BASIC MOUNTAINEERING RESCUE COURSE, JAMMU & KASHMIR SDRF PERSONNEL (1st & 2nd BN) INSTITUTE: JAWAHAR INSTITUTE OF MOUNTAINEERING & WINTER SPORTS (JIM & WS) PAHALGAM VENUE: PAHALGAM REPORT ON: BASIC MOUNTAINEERING RESCUE COURSE COURSE SERIAL NO: 102 DURATION OF COURSE: 01 JUL TO 26 JUL 2013 (26 DAYS) GENERAL 1. Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and winter Sports (JIM & WS) is a joint venture between Ministry of Defence, Government of India and Department of Tourism Govt. of J&K. Headquarter of the Institute is located at Nunwan, Pahalgam and sub centers at Bhaderwah (Doda), Sanasar (near Patnitop), Shey (Leh) and one adhoc sub centre at Gulmarg for skiing courses. Over last 30 years, the Institute has excelled in different adventure activities like Mountaineering, Skiing, Paragliding, Rescue, water rafting, short term special adventure courses and Mountain & Tourist Guide courses. INTRODUCTION 2. Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering & Winter Sports, (JIM & WS) conducted one Basic Mountaineering/ Rescue Course serial No.102 w.e.f 01 July to 26 July 2013 (26 days) for SDRF (Bn-1st & 2nd) personnel at Pahalgam sponsored by Additional Director General of Police SDRF /Home Guard/CD & Aux. Police J&K. 20 SDRF Personnel from 1st & 2nd BN and 54 private students from different parts of India reported to JIM & WS, Headquarter Pahalgam on 30 Jun 2013 to attend Basic Mountaineering / Rescue Course Serial No. -102. The Scheduled training of these 74 (68 Boys & 06 Girls) students of the course commenced on the next day morning. All 74 students completed the training successfully with desired level of standard. Nominal roll of Students is enclosed as Appendix “A”. 2 AIM 3. To impart theoretical and practical training on all aspects of activities in Mountainous and High Altitude area including rock and ice craft to Jammu & Kashmir SDRF Personnel. 4. To train the SDRF personnel for rescue operations in mountainous terrain and snowbound area of J&K state, especially for the area of Doda, Bhaderwah and Kishtwar since these areas are prone to mechanical accidents and natural calamities. STANDARD TO BE ACHIEVED 5. The competence levels expected from students upon completion of the course are as follows:- (a) Students should be able to effectively utilize technical skills during rescue operations in mountains / accidental sites/natural calamities. (b) Students should be able to effectively form part of rescue team as quick response to natural calamities (c) Students should be able to effectively carryout rescue missions / operations at accidental sites. (d) Students should be able to plan and take part in Mountain Expeditions at National and International level. OBJECTIVES 6. (a) Carryout rescue mission in any eventuality in mountains at accidental sites and during natural calamities. (b) Impart training on technical aspects of mountaineering. (c) Hone mountaineering skills of individuals. (d) Create environment awareness amongst the youth. (e) Promote adventure activities in the state. 3 OPENING ADDRESS 7. Opening address was given on the first day by Col Virinder Singh, Principal, JIM & WS. Students were introduced to well known history of the esteemed Institute JIM & WS. They were explained about expectations from students, administration of the Institute and safety and security to be observed around Pahalgam. Students were told the duration of course, tests and grading system as well as the phases of course going to be conducted in various training area of the Institute. OPENING ADDRESS BY COL VIRINDER SINGH, PRINCIPAL, JIM & WS CONDUCT OF TRAINING 8. The students were trained in Acclimatization walk, Introduction to mountaineering equipment, Rope knots, rock climbing, Rappelling, Survival Camps in Jungles & Glacier, Treks to different picturesque and historical places around the area, Tent pitching, Tyrolean traverse, River crossing, Rescue from river and accidental site, Ice climbing , Rope fixing & base making, avalanche rescue, Navigation in mountains and Glaciated terrains. 9. Training for the courses started with rock craft for initial 15 days at Pahalgam. This was followed by Ice craft training for which the teams moved to Thajiwas Glacier Sonamarg. A copy of training programme is enclosed as Appendix “B”. 10 Details of aspects covered during the training are enunciated in subsequent paras. 4 PHYSICAL EXERCISE 11. As the location of the Institute is at approx 7000 ft, though acclimatization was not mandatory, but initial periods were utilized to achieve physical fitness & mental robustness. Acclimatization marches of 1.5 to 3 kms around the places were conducted during first 2 days which was accompanied by mountain physical training. Students were made to run for long distance (7-8 kms) at one stretch to increase their endurance. At the end of this schedule students achieved the desired standards of fitness required to survive in hilly terrain. PHYSICAL EXERICSE TECHNICAL TRAINING 12 Keeping in consideration the geographical area of J&K state, training was provided in basic skills of rock craft, administration in mountainous terrain and glacier & introduction and use of mountaineering equipment in rescue missions/ operations at accidental sites and during natural calamities in mountainous terrain. At the culmination of this training, students could identify and narrate the uses of mountaineering equipment and its skillful application in mountainous area. Details of rock craft and other adventure activities conducted are as follows. 5 (a) ROCK CRAFT 15 periods were allotted to impart instructions in basic skills of mountaineering including pitch climbing, fixed rope climbing, Jumaring, free climbing and rappelling. The students were exposed to various types of rock surfaces around Pahalgam. ROCK CLIMBING RAPPELLING (b) ICE CRAFT 10 periods were allotted to impart instructions & practical training in basic skills of ice craft including base making, ice craft, avalanche rescue, navigation in mountains and Glaciated terrains. The students were taken to Thajiwas Glacier situated at Sonamarg for this part of the course. ICE CRAFT TRAINING 6 (c) RIVER CROSSING & CASUALTY EVACUATION Students were provided fundamental knowledge in the form of lecture cum demonstration on methods of negotiating fast flowing streams and nallas in mountainous areas and various methods of Casualty Evacuation followed by practicing it in groups. RIVER CROSSING CASUALTY EVACUATION (d) HIGH ALTITUDE TREKS Students were trained in trekking around Sonamarg. They got familiarized with the equipment needed while going on long treks. They were taken to historical places to observe and exchange culture and beautiful places like Table Top, Baltal and Happy Valley. Enroute they were made to practice rescue techniques from mountain cliffs and dense forest areas where there are no means of evacuation by road. TREK TO HAPPY VALLEY 7 (e) TENT PITCHING Students were demonstrated the methods of tent pitching and use of survival camps in the jungles, mountainous glacier terrain while on missions in adverse natural / manmade calamities. TENT PITCHING (f) LECTURES /PRESENTATIONS The following aspects of adventure activities and related subjects were covered in great details in the form of lecture cum Power point presentations and movies concerning mountaineering as mentioned below: (1) Introduction to mountaineering equipment. (2) Mountain hazards. (3) Dos and Don’ts of mountaineering. (4) High altitude illness / cold injuries and its preventive measures. (5) Tourism and culture of J&K. (6) Avalanche & avalanche rescue. (7) Introduction to Glacier (8) River crossing (9) Rescue from accidental site (10) Crevasse rescue 8 (11) Rescue team work (12) First Aid & CPR (13) Mountain Terminology (14) Load carrying & marching in Mountains. INSTRUCTORS DELIVERING LECTURES (g) ENDURANCE RUN Team practiced running for long distance with backpack load of 18 kgs which helped them to attain the desired standard of physical endurance required during rescue operations. Students showed marked improvement in endurance and they excelled in the final endurance run of 8.5 kms taken by the institute. Mr Zahid Bashir, a private student from Anantnag –J&K in boys and Ms G R Radhika, a private girl student from Andhra Pradesh secured the best in endurance