DAY10: GUNJI – Rest Day
It was hardly a rest day, infact it was more hectic in the first part of the day than any other day. Every one since the morning was tensed about the medical checkup and the tension was quite visible on everyone’s face. Apart from the medical check up this was also supposed to be a day to acclimatize at 3000+ meters.
After breakfast yatries had to carry there medical reports from Delhi to the ITBP medical camp which was next to our camp. The ITBP men had organized a briefing for yatries for the next part of the journey, the route and the precautions to be taken. After that our group was divided into 2 and the first half went in for medical and the rest went for planting trees in the ITBP grounds. Planting trees is a ritual that is carried out by the ITBP for all the groups. Well WE got a apple trees to plant!
For the medical test, each yatri was being called by the serial numbers and when called they had to take their reports in the medical Inspection room (M.I. Room). In the MI room there was a team of 5 doctors checking your BP, the O2 levels, the heart rate, the X-ray and in accordance with the medical report from DHLI finally giving a verdict whether you need a re-examination later or no. Those on border line also were asked to come again at 1600 hrs for a re-check and for the final verdict.
Luckily all OUR parameters were OK.
Out of a batch of 44, there were 34 yatris who were asked to come back for a re-check and believe US, their BP must have gone even higher after listening to this, so basically this waiting time must have been hell for them.
After lunch while the 34 of them were doing all sorts of exercises to get their BP’s down and WE decided to take a walk to the Gunji village that was about 2 kms away. The houses were all made of wood with some beautiful carvings on the doors. While coming back WE stopped by a cricketing field and I tried our hands at high altitude cricket and running after the ball was fun.
By the time WE returned from Our walk the results of the medicals were out. Four yatris were told to stay back and return with the next batch going down. Those 4 yatris were almost in tears and were pleading with the doctors to consider them again, but the doctors were only doing their duty and their recommendations were for the yatri’s benefit only.
Our personal opinion on this medical check is that it’s a must and it should be done and the results should be accepted without any prejudice. After all it’s your own life at risk and no reason whether be religious or any other is more important than your own life. Also if something goes wrong with a yatri while in Tibet the medical facilities there are minimal and evacuating the yatri from China to India becomes an expensive affair. And if someone dies at Tibet side then you can’t even bring the body back to India, you will have to cremate the body there and get the mortal remains.
Hence it’s essential for the safety of oneself that doctors do a thorough job and declare yatri can continue a head or not.
The day ended on a sad note but there was still some work to be done before yatries slept. Gunji is another place where yatries can leave luggage behind and collect it on there way back. Again, the packing un packing starts and give luggage's to the luggage committee and then hand it over to the luggage contractor.
It was time to sleep after dinner
PICS FROM DAY10
Briefing at ITBP Camp
Enjoying hot tea and chips. The ITBP Men were great!!
Planiting trees at "Mansarovar Van" at ITBP camp
Yatris waiting for their turn for the medical
There is an SBI branch there too. It is online and you can withdraw a maximum of Rs5000/- in a day
View of our KMVN camp-Gunji from a hillock
The cricket field
Panoramic view of Gunji village and the surrounding hills
Gunji Village
Beautifully carved wooden frames
Milestones
Walking back to Our camp on the road, yes, trucks do ply here!!
End of Day 10
It was hardly a rest day, infact it was more hectic in the first part of the day than any other day. Every one since the morning was tensed about the medical checkup and the tension was quite visible on everyone’s face. Apart from the medical check up this was also supposed to be a day to acclimatize at 3000+ meters.
After breakfast yatries had to carry there medical reports from Delhi to the ITBP medical camp which was next to our camp. The ITBP men had organized a briefing for yatries for the next part of the journey, the route and the precautions to be taken. After that our group was divided into 2 and the first half went in for medical and the rest went for planting trees in the ITBP grounds. Planting trees is a ritual that is carried out by the ITBP for all the groups. Well WE got a apple trees to plant!
For the medical test, each yatri was being called by the serial numbers and when called they had to take their reports in the medical Inspection room (M.I. Room). In the MI room there was a team of 5 doctors checking your BP, the O2 levels, the heart rate, the X-ray and in accordance with the medical report from DHLI finally giving a verdict whether you need a re-examination later or no. Those on border line also were asked to come again at 1600 hrs for a re-check and for the final verdict.
Luckily all OUR parameters were OK.
Out of a batch of 44, there were 34 yatris who were asked to come back for a re-check and believe US, their BP must have gone even higher after listening to this, so basically this waiting time must have been hell for them.
After lunch while the 34 of them were doing all sorts of exercises to get their BP’s down and WE decided to take a walk to the Gunji village that was about 2 kms away. The houses were all made of wood with some beautiful carvings on the doors. While coming back WE stopped by a cricketing field and I tried our hands at high altitude cricket and running after the ball was fun.
By the time WE returned from Our walk the results of the medicals were out. Four yatris were told to stay back and return with the next batch going down. Those 4 yatris were almost in tears and were pleading with the doctors to consider them again, but the doctors were only doing their duty and their recommendations were for the yatri’s benefit only.
Our personal opinion on this medical check is that it’s a must and it should be done and the results should be accepted without any prejudice. After all it’s your own life at risk and no reason whether be religious or any other is more important than your own life. Also if something goes wrong with a yatri while in Tibet the medical facilities there are minimal and evacuating the yatri from China to India becomes an expensive affair. And if someone dies at Tibet side then you can’t even bring the body back to India, you will have to cremate the body there and get the mortal remains.
Hence it’s essential for the safety of oneself that doctors do a thorough job and declare yatri can continue a head or not.
The day ended on a sad note but there was still some work to be done before yatries slept. Gunji is another place where yatries can leave luggage behind and collect it on there way back. Again, the packing un packing starts and give luggage's to the luggage committee and then hand it over to the luggage contractor.
It was time to sleep after dinner
PICS FROM DAY10
Briefing at ITBP Camp
Enjoying hot tea and chips. The ITBP Men were great!!
Planiting trees at "Mansarovar Van" at ITBP camp
Yatris waiting for their turn for the medical
There is an SBI branch there too. It is online and you can withdraw a maximum of Rs5000/- in a day
View of our KMVN camp-Gunji from a hillock
The cricket field
Panoramic view of Gunji village and the surrounding hills
Gunji Village
Beautifully carved wooden frames
Milestones
Walking back to Our camp on the road, yes, trucks do ply here!!
End of Day 10
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