Hundreds take part in Ladakh river rafting competition

A river rafting championship being held at Nemo in Ladakh has attracted teams from several parts of the country.Eleven teams, including those from the Indian Army, the Air Force, the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Punjab Police participated in the fourth National White Water Rafting Championship.

Nemo, Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir), Sept 4 : A river rafting championship being held at Nemo in Ladakh has attracted teams from several parts of the country.Eleven teams, including those from the Indian Army, the Air Force, the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Punjab Police participated in the fourth National White Water Rafting Championship.

"I have liked it very much. If efforts are made, India's biggest event can be organised here," said Farooq Ahmed Bhat, the coach of the Jammu and Kashmir Police Team.

Organised by the Indian Rafting Foundation, the event is aimed at promoting tourist inflows to the Ladakh region.

The Indus River flows in a north west to south east direction towards Pakistan.

The Indus rapids are generally Graded, I and II from a rafting point of view, but in some places the rapids are Graded III to V because of the water movement.

Between June and August, rafting is said to be the most suitable since the water level is high.

"The main reason for holding this championship is to see what we lack in terms of planning a big international event here next year," said Shaukat Sikand, the secretary of the Indian Rafting Foundation.

The most popular rafting points in the area are from Phey to Nimo, Upshi to Kharu, Upshi to Nimo.

ANI