The 16th Raid-de- Himalaya would be flagged off on October 4, VC Pharka, additional chief secretary, Youth Services and Sports said on Wednesday.
Presiding over a meeting convened to co-ordinate necessary arrangements for organising the event, Pharka said this would be the 16th Consecutive Raid-de-Himalaya. He said that the first leg of the event would finish on October 5 at Manali after taking off from Shimla. The second leg of the event will commence on October 6 and after starting from Manali it would pass through Kunzum la and would halt at Kaza.
Pharka said the third leg of this mega event would take off on October 7 from Kaza and would move through Komik, Dhankar and would again halt at Kaza. The fourth leg after taking off from Kaza, would pass through Gramphoo, Darcha and would rest at Sarchu on October 8.
The fifth leg of the 16th Raid-de-Himalaya will take off from Sarchu and will pass through Debring, Daat and would again halt at Sarchu on October 9.
Pharka said that the sixth leg of the event after pushing off from Sarchu on October 10 and will move through Keylong and would be back to Manali. The 16th Raid-de-Himalaya will finish on October 10 and the prize distribution ceremony will be held at Manali on October 11.
He said that about 150 teams from India and abroad would participate in the speed version called Xtreme while ‘time, speed and distance’ version was called Adventure Trial. He said that for two wheelers, the event was once again featured on the International off Road Rallies Calendar of the FIM, Geneva.
The State Government would provide Helicopter services to meet any emergency during the event besides private helicopter would be kept ready for evacuation. The event is being organised by Himalayan Motorsport Association Shimla in collaboration of Departments of Youth Services and Sport and Tourism, Himachal Pradesh.
Raid-de-Himalaya, India’s premier motor sport event covers about 1650 kms through harsh and difficult terrain at 4000 meters and above and crosses 11 high passes. The Raid this year was a real life thriller as it would pass through some areas where temperature dips below -20 degree Celsius.
Pharka said that due to recent floods in Jammu & Kashmir the rally route was reviewed and revised to facilitate the ongoing relief and rescue efforts in the State. “Care was being taken to schedule day movements so that as far as possible, all competitive sections run during day time. The safety plan envisages the use of roving mobile teams and mobile ambulance units in addition to the required number of fixed ‘Fast Intervention Vehicles’ and ambulances,” he added.
Those present in the meting included Kamal Sharma, Director Youth Services and Sports, Amarjeet Singh, Commissioner, MC, Shimla, SP Shimla D.W. Negi, SP Kullu Surender Verma, Additional PCCF SS Negi, Additional Secretary, GAD Ashwani Sharma, ADM Shimla DK Rattan and Vijay Parmar, president, Himalayan Motor sport Association, besides others.