Uttarkashi: Just weeks after a ban on mountaineering in Gangotri was lifted, the region has seen an influx of trekkers eager to scale the Himalyan peaks. A 16-member team of 2nd Jat Regiment has successfully returned to the district headquarters after completing its Satopanth peak expedition.Vinod Gusain, team guide and trainer at Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, said, “The team led by Major Ujjwal Gupta which began the expedition on August 22 summited the peak at 7,075 metres above sea level on September 13.”Gusain added, “After starting the expedition on August 22, the team reached Vasuki Tal base camp on August 26 by crossing Bhojwasa, Gaumukh and Nandanvan. But soon they were forced to retreat due to a snow storm. On September 13, th team successfully summited the peak.”Pratap Panwar, ranger of Gangotri National Park, told TOI, “At present, around a dozen mountaineering groups have entered Gangotri region. This includes the teams of NSG commandos and Artillery Regiment of the Indian Army which have gone for mountaineering expedition at Jogin peak and Gangotri 3rd peak respectively.”He added, “The forest department supports mountaineering and trekking expeditions which are the backbone of tourism-based economy of the state. However, we are dedicated to the protection of Himalayan meadows and valleys, which are home to rare flora and fauna. Tourists can enjoy this natural beauty by giving a written undertaking that they would not cause any damage to this sensitive ecosystem.”The forest department had earlier cited Uttarakhand high court order banning night stay in alpine and sub-alpine grasslands and meadows to impose a blanket ban on trekking and mountaineering expeditions which often make use of the meadows to camp. The blanket ban was later lifted.

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