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| Adventures associated with frozen Dal lake | | Down the memory lane | | Eary Times Special Correspondent
Jammu | Jan 5
The warning served by the police in Srinagar to the people against walking on the frozen Dal lake takes me down the memory lane, to recall the adventures associated with the frozen Dal lake, in the past. The Dal lake was frozen for the first time in the year 1959, so far as the known history of the lake goes. Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, the then Prime Minister of the state, who was known for his dash and dare devil antics drove his jeep over the lake, which was frozen about 22 inches thick, the Bakshi drove the vehicle for more than 20 minutes near the Hazratbal coast of the lake which is one of the major tourist attraction in Kashmir. He enjoyed the drive to his heart's content, with a large number of his admirers applauding and many more watching the feat.
The second time when the Dal froze was in 1964, when again a thick layer of frozen water (ice) was formed. Late Shamim Ahmed Shamim, a former member parliament and also member J&K assembly, for one term each, who was at that time gazetted officer of the state government as field publicity officer in the Information Department along with some other adventure lovers rode on the bicycles on the frozen lake. They could paddle their bicycle only for few steps when it slipped down on the slippery ice formation on the lake. The State Information Department that had caught the scene on the movie camera, later released the scene of cycle ride over the frozen lake in a documentary, screened in various cinema halls of Srinagar as well as Jammu.
The lake froze again in the winter of 1986. The lake water froze for only about six inches and boys played cricket and hockey on the frozen lake. Many old timers recall the adventurous event and claim their having taken part in the adventure. Some claim that they had walked over the frozen lake for nearly 3 km from Nageen to Sandrabal. The crust was very thick and people would walk over it without any fear.
On all these occasion the Dal wore a festive look with people from various parts of valley thronging the lake and cherishing walk over the same, while those not so daring watching the wonder from the bank of the lake. It is after more than 12 years that parts of the Dal lake have frozen again this year, drawing public attention and creating attraction for the adventure lovers. The Dal this year has frozen for the second time within a span of one month. The children are reported to be throwing stones, papers and breaking the thin eye sheets on the peripheries of the lake.
Going down the memory lake, I am reminded of another dare devil feat and decision taken on the fir of moment by Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad. Sometime in the year 61-62, when the traffic got blocked on Jammu-Srinagar national highway for few days, due to landslides, causing good deal of inconvenience and hardship to the commuters, the Prime Minister Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, himself supervised the operation clearing the road of debris and making it worthy for traffic, for the stranded vehicles to move on. After the road was made through, a goods carrier developed some snag, blocking the road and passage of the traffic, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad took a quick decision on the spot to push the truck down the mountain, to clear the blockade. He himself gave the first push to the truck, ordering the police force and the workers engaged in removing the debris to join him. The truck was pushed and thrown down the mountain, removing the blockade and clearing the road. The Bakshi then ordered full compensation to the owner of the truck, along with the cost of goods it was carrying, from the public exchequer. |
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