Indians go hiking on N-Day to collect waste

Ras Al Khaimah - Most wastes collected were empty plastic bottles, bags, paper and soft drink cans.

While many residents utilised the National Day holidays for leisure and fun, a group of Indian men decided to spend a day for a green cause.
The group comprising 12 Keralites, aged 25 to 40, went hiking to the top of the Jebel Jais and collected four bags of wastes, covering a distance of 33km.
Zubair Muliyathil, a 34-year-old accounts manager, told Khaleej Times it took 6.5 hours for them to reach the top of the highest peak in the country, which is over 1,900m above the sea level.
"This is the least thing we can do to show how much we love and respect this great, kind and generous nation, where around 200 nationalities are living peacefully and happily. We started at 7.50am in the morning and finished at 4pm in the afternoon."
The group of RAK residents, which included an accountant, auditor, banker, sales agent, executives and nature lovers, are members of the Youth Indian team RAK.
Sheril Salim, a 34-year-old head teller with a bank in RAK, said: "We collected the garbage over the 42,753 steps we covered on the way to the top."
Most of the wastes collected were empty plastic bottles, bags, pieces of paper, and soft drink cans, he added.
Mohammed Noufar, 34-year-old sales executive, said each of them lost about 2,550 calories during their trip. "We received so much encouragement from drivers passing by us. Other than hiking and collecting waste, we enjoyed the fine weather, and scenic views of Jebel jais."
Noufar said they got help from vehicles to take it to the top of the mountain and dump it in a big waste bin kept there.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com 

• Ras Al Khaimah