These photos cost me a shoulder! On 08.07.14 after finishing my session with supervisors in the Management Development Program at Dharampur (KM33/15), started hiking down to Taksal along the scenic track of Shimla-Kalka section at 1415 hrs. At KM 29/5 saw this magnificent sight- could see three levels of the track. Suddenly realising I was standing on the fourth level, decided to climb up a little to capture four levels of track in one frame. As the second picture taken at exactly 1530 hrs shows, my attempt failed- the 3rd level, which is visible in the first photo got obscured by the foliage. Immediately after this, slipped down the slope, while trying to protect my camera with right hand, grabbed a shrub with left hand. But my fall was not arrested- surely the left shoulder did get dislocated due to impact of body weight during the fall. Finally my fall did get arrested, still a few tantalising feet above the track level. Did managed to scramble down after handing over the camera to Sunil from Kalka who was accompanying me. Since this was in middle of no-where and no train was coming, continued my trek further for about an hour to reach the next station Sanwara at KM 26/ at around 1630hrs, where I was picked up by AME KLK Shri Jitendra Singh. After that we drove down to Chandigarh as a search for a Ortho surgeon at Kalka turned futile. With help from team UMB (SrDME Vikas, CMS, SM/CDG), located a good Ortho at CDG and was in the clinic by 1815 hrs, However, despite the good old Doctors manipulative skills, my shoulder could not be reduced. The Good Doctor Ashok Gupta asked my permission for a second try, which I promptly refused as I had reached my limits. Dr Gupta handed me over to Dr Singla for reducing me under GA. So, the stubborn shoulder finally relented at around 2030 hrs under influence of GA in the clinic OT. Was back to my senses by around 2200 hrs and in train to Delhi by 0100 hrs. Next time should be able to complete my trek with better pix! Apurva Bahadur- will need some tips from you!
Posted on: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 15:31:58 +0000