There are people in the world who are known for their bravery. In that honor they were awarded with great prizes and medals. People consider them their heroes and encourage him. Of course, such brave people are appreciated in the society at home and abroad.
But there are also some brave people in the world who were hidden from the eyes of the people. Who finds joy in saving the lives of others?
One such brave man namely Ghulam Mohd Lone who hails from the Inshan area of Kishtwar District has been serving the people for the last 22 years at Margan Top known as “valley of death”.
Ghulam Mohammad Lone is a shopkeeper by profession running a small tea shop in the ‘Nard Balen’ area at the foothills of dangerous Margan Top. The only road which connects the warwan valley to Kashmir valley via kokernag, The Margan Top comes in the mid of this road perched at an altitude of 14,000 ft from the sea level,
According to Ghulam Mohammad Lone, during the spring season, the Wardwan road is opened for travelers and remains open for only 5 months as the foothills of Margan Top and wardwan receive massive snowfall during winter season. The route is closed for at least 5 months due to massive snowfall.
The Margan Top is witnessed several deaths due to massive snow fall and every year receiving 5 to 10 ft of snow.
During the harsh conditions of weather Ghulam Mohammad Lone has been serving travelers for the last 22 years. The lone and small shop of Ghulam Mohammad functions at the Margan top to cater to the needs of travelers passing through this road . Lon’s shop cum hut serves as a one stop shop where tourists ,travelers can eat ,relax or incase of any calamity can stay here .
The Margan Top has of late become a tourist attraction for being one of the most beautiful mountain tops of the Himalayan region in south Kashmir. Situated at about 60 km from the district headquarter Anantnag, this mountain pass is the gateway to a hidden valley called Wardwan. Surrounded by beautiful meadows all around, the Margan Top boasts of a 360 degree view with Kashmir valley on one side and the Warwan valley on the other. Its name is derived from two words; Mar meaning death and Gan means valley. For its unpredictable weather conditions, it had been a valley of death till a road was constructed just ten years ago.
According to Ghulam Mohammad Khan, who lives at the foothills of the beautiful Morgan Top has rescued many people during the inclement weather. In 2007 I brought a person stuck in the snow near Margan Top to my hotel in a half-dead. He was unconscious; I warmed him by lighting a fire and gave him a hot tea, when he regained consciousness he said where is my another friend?” Hearing this, I went to the forest area again to find his friend and also saved him.
In 2013, a forest employee was stuck at the Margan Top after the area had received massive snowfall. When I heard about his missing I went there and took him to my hut and saved him. The then forest employees appreciated me and said that if you had not been here our employee would have lost his life. Mohammad said
Added that, with no means of Communication, transport or settlements there has been no help from administration or govt owing to the inaccessibility and the area being totally out of bounds. He said
Apart from this Ghulam Mohammad Lone has succeeded in saving the lives of others while risking his own life many times at Margan Top.
But unfortunately this unsung hero in spite of the hardships has seamlessly been performing his duty without expectation of any reward from the administration.
According to reports in February last year Six persons from Wardwan kashtiwar had gone missing after getting caught in a snow storm on the Margan Top. As per reports they had started their journey by foot through Margan top, a high mountain pass which connects Warwan Valley in Kishtwar district with the Anantnag district. The authorities had launched a massive rescue mission to search them in Margan top and finally traced them after 3 days.(Milap News Network)
