Poonch Link-up Day celebrations begin with trek to Dani-ka-Peer

Excelsior Correspondent

Col Jodhvir Singh flagging off trekking tour of school children as  part of Poonch Link-up Day celebrations at Khanetar on Tuesday.
Col Jodhvir Singh flagging off trekking tour of school children as part of Poonch Link-up Day celebrations at Khanetar on Tuesday.

POONCH, Nov 17: The Poonch Link-up Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the linkup between Brig Pritam Singh forces and the main forces at Rajouri.
This year the occasion is being celebrated with more enthusiasm.  The celebrations began with a trekking tour organized by Army for school children from district Poonch to Dani-ka-Peer, which commemorates the historic breakthrough link up of November 21, 1948.
The trekking team was flagged off by   Col Jodhvir Singh this morning amidst a civil- military gathering from Tanda Khanetar.  The trekking team comprised of 11 Army personnel, 101 children including girls and boys and seven teachers from adjoining area of Kalai and Khanetar.
The team covered a mountainous and rugged trek of about 8 Km on foot to Dani- ka- Peer, the place where Brig Pritam Singh led his forces to link up with main forces from Rajouri.  The children were enthusiastic about the trek and felt proud to be associated with the link up celebrations.
Sarpanch of Tanda village who was also present at the flagging off ceremony thanked the Army for providing the children an opportunity to be associated with the sacrifices made to liberate Poonch in 1948.
The team completed the trek in little less than seven hours before it was flagged in by the Col Jodhvir Singh.  The contentment and happiness of having trekked the historic Danni- ka- Peer route was evident in the smiling face of the children.  The teachers requested that many more such trekking tours be organised so that more children can take part in the event.