EMERGENCY RATIONS AND SURVIVAL PACKS In my military flying, there was only time when we had opened the aircraft survival pack. Many moons ago, I and Maj RI Bhandari got stranded overnight at Gumri while on way back from Kargil to Srinagar. We hit bad weather, low cloud base, strong winds, poor visibility after T/O from Kargil but homititis made us keep going, all the while decending lower and lower to remain under the cloud base. Those who are familiar with that area would know that from Kargil onto Gumri and thence to Zojilla you fly along a narrow longish valley with high mountains on either side till you hit Gumri. A few minutes ahead of Gumri there is a place where high tension wires are strung across this narrow valley. Normally quite unmistakable and low unless you too are low, flying in bad visibility with snow/white out conditions affecting your perspective. That day we had arranged for all these conditions. We flew low over Gumri peering ahead because we knew that once Zojilla was crossed, it was all clear, a free fall to Baltal and then on to base. Suddenly, to our unpleasant surprise we saw the HT cables dead ahead-- we were that low over the snow. And Zojilla seemed to be lost between the snow, horrizon and sky. Both of us were shaken and with not many words exchanged we backtracked 180⁰. No point in going for that steep plunge over Zojilla to Baltal. Gumri it would have to be. So we flew 'low- slow', circled and landed bang in the center of the small and isolated BRO outpost. A small det really, not more than ten men and all were there to greet us. Aliens from outerspace that dark, extremely cold afternoon with low clouds and snow all around. We were welcomed with a hot mug of tea and biscuits.They told us that when they saw the chopper circling low over the camp they had realised that ' heli ko koi dikkat hai'. I recollect they had a huge (ancient) HF radio set for comns with whatever. Through their channels a message was passed to the Corps HQ and to our Sqn that all is well and the aircraft has landed at Gumri. Bad weather. Twilight soon approached and the JCO insisted on us occupying his small room in the only TRS hut in Gumri. A couple of blankets were rustled up. A bukhari lighted specially for us. And-- can you imagine a 'barakhana'!! With their limited amount of fresh- tomatoes, onions, eggs; and rum--the BRO personnel laid out a lavish spread for us as we all ate together. The hospitality of these men was truly humbling, these hard working men who saw choppers going to and fro over their camp every day. But then the actual story is about the 'survival pack'. The one we see under the pilot/copilot seat everytime we fly out. Neatly packed and sealed in that canvas type waterproof saddlebag, almost WW 2 vintage looking. So after we had our tea that day, Ravi Bhandari said 'lets open the survival kit'. I wonder how many aviators are really aware of what all it contains. That was the only time I opened a survival kit -- I remember there were toffees, fish hooks and line, chocolate, a small compass, medicines, ( morphine ?? not sure), water purifier tablets and a reflector to indicate own position. Plus a couple other small packets and items. Wonder if there are any changes in the contents now?? Anyways, we ate the toffees and chocolates. And on returning back the next day we informed the engineering offr that 'one survival pack' had been opened. For necessary action. And yes, on my next sortie to Leh, I had carried along a bag of fresh tomatoes, onions, a dozen eggs, some green vegetables and a bottle of rum. A quick landing at Gumri, rotors running, thankyou mouthed, thumbs up and off we went !!