Day 12: Aizwal-Jiribam-Imphal Plan Reality Aizwal-Kwangpui Clutch fails & crash. Luckily am alive

September 22, 2017

Day 12:

Aizwal-Jiribam-Imphal

Kms Planned: 468 kms.

This morning I got up very early and left Aizwal as soon as 6:00AM. I wanted to reach Imphal before it got dark. I withdrew some cash from an ATM, filled fuel and set out.

I did about 20 odd kms and there was a beautiful waterfalls so I washed my face, took a few photos and reached the spot where the road was bad.

Beautiful Waterfalls

Try and look at the deep valley behind me. Luckily I did not end down there

I was just crossing the bad patch at a very low speed when suddenly the clutch got disengaged and the wheels got jammed and I had a crash. I was thrown in front of the bike and landed face down. To my luck I did not have any major damages on me. The bike suffered a broken LHS clamp which holds the footrest & gear leaver. I was lucky I did not fall off the valley nor was I close to any bigger vehicles.

There was a goods truck which was following me. The guys in that got down , picked my bike & tried to fix it for me while I sat there on the side of the road thanking God that I was alive. The guy's name was Mona. He and his boys finally fixed the footrest in its place using bamboo. I then started the bike & put it in gear to test & it switched off. So finally they towed the bike and brought it and me to a friend's place. Between this, I called my Versys India Riders and they were trying to find some contact who could help me and also coordinating with road side assistance guys and also the company guys.

Mona Bro (One on the right) & his boys.

The citizens of Mizoram speak a language called Lushai. Most of them know neither Hindi nor English. We were at Mona's friend's place and after the fall, I was down and damn hungry & they ran a food joint. I soon gobbled up a couple of plates of Pulao. Mona Bro went ahead with his work as he had to deliver some goods assuring me that I shall have no trouble whatsoever. I spread a big cloth I was carrying and prepared myself to be here till next day. It started to rain heavily and the place where I was sitting , started to seep so they asked me to stay in their home.

That saved my head & face.

That looks like my home tonight.

This is what I ate. Pulao

This is where I am.

View outside window

The people here are so sweet. They let an unknown person into their home, We can not communicate in language but they understand my state and are helping me & treating me like a guest. I am so deeply indebted to these people.

I have been following up with RSA and they have still not reached me. I hope they reach soon and my bike gets fixed as soon as possible.

UPDATE:

They prepared special food for me and when I offered to pay, rejected it saying that it was for a family member

My offer to pay was only for the food not for the kindness they bestowed upon me which is priceless.

If anybody goes to Mizoram, Kwanpui, please visit them & thank them.

A few members of the Sangtei Family.

Finally the RSA reached at 8:30 PM and we started off by 9:00 PM to Silchar. It was drizzling all the way and we were 3 guys sitting in the front of the goods auto. As we reached the Mizoram Assam border, the guy stopped the three wheeler luggage carrier near a petrol pump. I asked him why that was and he said that there were few incidents of robbery and that it was unsafe to travel on that stretch during odd hours.

We stayed there till early morning and at about 4:30, had some tea and started off towards Silchar. We reached Silchar by about 8:00 AM. I had to pay extra 800 for the tow. Waiting for the KTM Service Center to open to do an initial check.