By Our Correspondent
Humla, Aug. 11: For the first time ever, a team of Armed Police Force (APF) has reached the Nepal-China Border Pillar No. 3 located at Chimla Bhanjyang of Namkha Rural Municipality Ward No. 5. Since its erection, the pillar had remained unattended, that is until now. “At the government-level, the border pillar has been monitored for the very first time,” informed APF’s DSP Gahendra Bhandari.

The team led by Bhandari was able to navigate its way through treacherous landscape after a grueling three-day journey. “Initially, we used a vehicle but as the roads became increasingly troublesome, we abandoned the four-wheeler and travelled on foot for three days before reaching our destination,” shared DSP Bhandari talking about the travails of his team’s expedition. The 44th APF Battalion stationed at the Humla district headquarters, Simkot first arrived at Namkha Rural Municpality’s Yari via Karnali corridor on a four-wheeler.

After spending a night at Yari, the battalion made their way to Hyangsi before setting a camp at Ghi Kharka. On the third day, the APF crew travelled across the Yangjo Pokhari before finally reaching Chimla Bhanjyang and the border pillar perched at an elevation of 5,108 metres above sea level.

“We are glad to report that the pillar is in tip-top condition,” informed team leader Bhandari. Bhandari and team were able to locate the pillar thanks to the GPS tracking system. Because of its high elevation, the team increasingly had to enter into thin air as they ascended the hills. “Fortunately none of our team members suffered any altitude sickness,” he added.
As the place is blanketed with a thick veil of snow for at least 10 months a year, the APF Battalion were careful to plan their expedition so that it coincided with a brief moment of respite that Namkha
area enjoys during June and August. “We were right on time. After 10 minutes since our arrival, the entire Bhanjyang got engulfed in dense fog. If we were an hour late, all our ordeals would have gone in vain,” explained Bhandari.

With the completion of the onsite evaluation of Border Pillar No. 3, the government is now eyeing to deploy personnel at Hilsa to monitor the hitherto unsullied Border Pillar No. 4 area. Previously Border Security Post Hilsa had undertaken an expedition but had returned unsuccessful due to heavy snowfall. Bhandari explains that the month of August is the only time suitable for monitoring the pillar because it offers a brief window of opportunity for travel. There are 15 border pillars located in Humla out of which 14 have already been monitored.