Auto-rickshaw racers leave Madras

By Zubair Ahmed
BBC News, Mumbai

The event has been described as the world's weirdest motoring event (Photo by Deepak Gupta)

The first Madras-Mumbai auto-rickshaw rally has begun in the south Indian city with 72 participants from across the world - though none from India.

The rally is intended to be an annual event, showcasing India's rich heritage and its multicultural society along the 1,900km (1,200 mile)route.

It will be full of adventure and will push drivers' endurance, stamina and patience, organisers say.

They are not due to reach Mumbai until 17 August.

The organisers say the participants seemed enthusiastic about the prospect of seeing India from an auto-rickshaw.

They will have to go through flooded roads, muddy pathways and mountainous terrains.

Aravind Kumar, the brains behind the rally, says that after last year's successful auto-rickshaw rally between Madras - also known as Chennai - and Kanyakumari, India's southernmost tip, he decided to organise a Madras-Mumbai event.

Each participant will keep collecting points along the route and the one who reaches the final destination with maximum points will be the winner.