2:30am we headed to Batal, crossing the back breaking and the ugly Rohtang Pass. I call it ugly because of the bad roads. It took us about 5 hrs to reach Batal. It was about -5°C in morning, and none of us had the guts to take off our gloves. We lit up a small bonfire and there was soon a small group gathered around us. Soon the gypsy’s started coming.
We were expecting Aman to arrive first since Aman had topped yesterday. But that dint happen. The car which arrived first said they saw Amans Gypsy hanging half way out on the cliff. That scared the shit out of me, but then they said both Aman and Manoj were safe so that bought relief to me but with lot of pain since it was almost curtains for us. No one actually expected Aman to complete that stage. But to surprise all of us he arrived, wasted 30mins but completed the section in 50mins, i.e. in total of 80mins. Guess what the fastest gypsy in that section made it in 54mins. So if you minus 30mins that they lost we were going great guns.
How did the accident happen?
Aman and Manoj were cruising in the section “ekdum maska.” All of a sudden the Raid Stewards vehicle heading towards Batal blocked their way for few mins. That costed them some time so they pressed on the gas as soon as they got the way. Next came the curve with a boulder in between the road, their car bounced on that boulder, they lost balance and the next moment they were hanging on the cliff. The officials helped them to pull their car out and they finished that CS.
Aman was not sure whether to continue or not because they had lost lot of time.
But then he made up his mind and decided “ Ab toh phaad ke chalayenge..Jo hoga dekha jaayega..” But we will give it a best shot.
They left for the next CS to Patseo and we followed. Re-fueled at Tandi we headed straight to Patseo. Reached there in evening and boys started to work on the car. It was windy and real chilly. Aman finished on 18th place that day. We had our dinner and decided to move towards our next service point Nakeela. There was news outside that it was snowing. We encountered a heavy snowfall at Barlacha La and negotiated it safely. We reached Sarchu and decided to take some rest there and then head to Nakeela. We found a tent which offered a bed and razai at 50rs per head. That would be end of today.
We were expecting Aman to arrive first since Aman had topped yesterday. But that dint happen. The car which arrived first said they saw Amans Gypsy hanging half way out on the cliff. That scared the shit out of me, but then they said both Aman and Manoj were safe so that bought relief to me but with lot of pain since it was almost curtains for us. No one actually expected Aman to complete that stage. But to surprise all of us he arrived, wasted 30mins but completed the section in 50mins, i.e. in total of 80mins. Guess what the fastest gypsy in that section made it in 54mins. So if you minus 30mins that they lost we were going great guns.
How did the accident happen?
Aman and Manoj were cruising in the section “ekdum maska.” All of a sudden the Raid Stewards vehicle heading towards Batal blocked their way for few mins. That costed them some time so they pressed on the gas as soon as they got the way. Next came the curve with a boulder in between the road, their car bounced on that boulder, they lost balance and the next moment they were hanging on the cliff. The officials helped them to pull their car out and they finished that CS.
Aman was not sure whether to continue or not because they had lost lot of time.
But then he made up his mind and decided “ Ab toh phaad ke chalayenge..Jo hoga dekha jaayega..” But we will give it a best shot.
They left for the next CS to Patseo and we followed. Re-fueled at Tandi we headed straight to Patseo. Reached there in evening and boys started to work on the car. It was windy and real chilly. Aman finished on 18th place that day. We had our dinner and decided to move towards our next service point Nakeela. There was news outside that it was snowing. We encountered a heavy snowfall at Barlacha La and negotiated it safely. We reached Sarchu and decided to take some rest there and then head to Nakeela. We found a tent which offered a bed and razai at 50rs per head. That would be end of today.
Click below for today’s pictures.
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