EME Mountaineering Expedition to Mt Leo Pargial

New Delhi, June 2 (UNI) Continuing its glorious mountaineering traditions, the Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EME) today launched an expedition to the formidable Mt Leo Pargial in Himachal Pradesh.

The 6,816-metre Mt Leo Pargial is one of the most dominating and formidable peaks of the Himachal Pradesh Himalayas and the mountain, though climbed earlier, presents formidable challenges to the mountaineering fraternity the world over.

However, the Corps of EME has a long tradition of mountaineering -- from Padma Bhushan Major HPS Ahluwalia (Retd) who was the first Indian climber of Mount Everest to the present days.

In the recent past, EME mountaineers have scaled Mt Sri Kailash (6,932m), Mt Kedardome (6,830m), Mt Satopath (7,078m), and Mt Shivling (6,542m).

The expedition is being led by Maj Vishal Ahlawat who has three successful climbs to his credit. Other members of the team are Captain RS Nagar, Havildar Major Pushkar Singh, Havildar G Perumal, Naik S Vickey, Lance Naik Rajender Singh, Craftsman (Cfn) Vijay Sharma, Cfn Praveen Kumar, Cfn VK Makkoti, Cfn DR Kakoji, Cfn LM Sawma and Cfn RK Rai.

The expedition was flagged-off from here by Maj Gen AKS Chandele, officiating Director General of EME, who wished the team members all success.

The team will commence the climb on June 10 from Nako to establish a base camp by the next day. The peak will be scaled after establishing three stage camps by June 24.

The Corps of EME has always been in the forefront of adventure and sports activities with its officers and men bringing laurels to the Nation. To name a few, the Corps has produced the famous Olympian Padma Shri Milkha Singh, the first Indian to climb Mount Everest Padma Bhushan Major HPS Ahluwalia (Retd), the first Indian to reach the South Pole Col JK Bajaj, National Champion in Squash for seven years Brig Raj Manchanda (Retd), Nb Sub Rajesh Choudhary who won an Asiad Bronze Medal in Laser Full Rig Sailing, and Nb Sub Saji K Thomas and Jenil K who bagged the Silver Medal in Rowing at the Busan Asian Games.

The Corps has also represented the country in weight-lifting at the Afro-Asian Games in 2003 and the Commonwealth Games in 2004.

Nb Sub Jenil K is a recepient of the Arjun Award for his performance as a rower; Hav A Md Zakir won a Silver medal and V Biju won a Bronze medal in the Commonwealth Weight Lifting Championships held at Melbourne; Hav Avtar Singh of the Corps Hockey team played in the Azlan Shah Cup Hockey Championship held at Malaysia; Capt DVS Lakshmi Priya secured the Seventh position in the Commonwealth Games in Sports Rifle Prone and secured Eighth position in Australia Cup 2 held at Melbourne.

UNI DG VD BD1812