Bandipora, Feb 17: Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Dr Owais Ahmad on Friday flagged off a group of adventure lovers for treking expedition to Detwas meadows in surinder valley of the district.
He was accompanied by ADC Waseem Raja,ADDC Ali Afsar Khan,Nodal officer coordination M A Hyakakh and other senior officers of the district.
The expedition was part of the Winter Carnival 2023. In it’s second phase the festival is being celebrated at Surinder- a picturesque valley in Arin Block with an aim to explore the potential of the area for winter tourism and winter sports.
Hundreds of adventure loving youngsters from across the District converged at mini-secretariat Bandipora where from they started their journey to Surinder village and then a trek to Datwas meadows.
At Surinder the Ali Sports Academy organised a range of sports activities including Snow Volleyball, Snow Rugby, Snow Kabaddi, Rasa Kashi besides hiking.
Enroute the participants were entertained by the folk music by local Gujjar/Pahari families besides playing soulful tunes over flute/bansari during the trek.
Several cultural and musical programmes were also held at Datwas that enthralled the audience .
After flagging off the treking group, Deputy Commissioner said the aim of organising the event was to explore the tourism potential of these areas and to do some productive work amid sub zero temperature when everyone loves to stay indoors.
He said the Surinder region has a huge potential and such events will help to further promote the tourism of the area.
Dr Owais said they will promote tourism of this particular area by inviting people from other areas of the country.
He further stated that such events help the youth to spend their leisure time in useful activity so that they stay away from drug addiction.
DC Bandipora Dr. Owais Ahmad, IAS, appreciated the youth for participating in the event and hoped that these events shall go in a long way to promote tourism and outreach activities in the District.
He further said that more such events are in pipeline and a Mega Snow Carnival is also scheduled to be held across various tourist destinations of the District.
