INDO-BHUTAN FRIENDSHIP CAR RALLY

Toshniwal ranked third in the Indo-Bhutan car rally

The third prize (Rs 30,000) of the recently held 3-rd Indo-Bhutan Friendship Car Rally went to Cooch Behar's Vikash Toshniwal and Nirav Mehta. During the rally Toshniwal witnessed severe beatings but managed to survive till the end without any major breakdown. Toshniwal and Mehta won the fourth prize in last year's rally. This year, there were 34 participants (including 7 participants from Bhutan) in the 715-kilometre rally.

The rally was organised by the Friendship Car Rally Association. Bhutan India Friendship Association and India Bhutan Foundation promoted it. The eight-day Kolkata-Thimphu rally went through Siliguri, Phuentsholing and Gelephu. All top three prizes in the open category went to the Indian teams.

The first leg was from Siliguri to Phuentsholing (250-km), the second leg was from Phuentsholing to Gelephu (221-km) and the third leg was from Gelephu to Thimphu (244-km).

Foreign minister of Bhutan Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering and Indian ambassador to Bhutan Pavan K Varma awarded the prizes at the Clock Tower Square. It was followed by a concert by Five Dimensions, a Kolkata band.

Arindam Ghosh and Somdeb Chanda secured the first prize (Rs 75,000) and Soham Hazra and Amit Saha secured the second prize (Rs 50,000). Both were from Kolkata.

Some 200 people including 80 competitors, 100 officials and 20 back up service people participated in the JK Tyres sponsored rally. "It was very adventurous and a great experience", a participant said.

The Kuensel of Bhutan reports : In the prize distribution ceremony the Indian ambassador said, "The rally is symbolic of a much greater truth, the Indo-Bhutan friendship, which needs to be visually manifested." The chief organiser JP Majumdar said, "The rally was conceptualised to reach out to people and connect them to strengthen the friendship between the two countries."