Naval Expdn reaches South Pole

New Delhi, Dec 29 (UNI) In a manifold first, a team of Indian Naval mountaineers has successfully reached the geographic South Pole after ski-traversing over 220 KMs while manually pulling sledges weighing up to 120 KGs.

The ten-member team, led by Everesteer Commander Satyabrata Dam, took 16 days of walking on skis for almost 12 to 14 hours daily to reach their objective yesterday at about 0200 Hrs IST, an official spokesperson said here today.

In a region where the the warmest temperatures are in the range of minus 10 to minus 35 degrees Celsius -- further worsened by wind speeds up to 50 to 60 KMs per hour, the terrain conditions added to the difficulties of this First Indian Ski Traverse to the Geograpohic South Pole.

This is also the the First all-Navy team in the world to ski to the South Pole -- as also the the First Defence Forces Team in the World to do so since 1912. Further, this is the first time that an Indian reached the South Pole after having climbed Everest. The team includes some submariners who are thus the first submariners in the world to have reached the South Pole.

Earlier, on December 15 last, the Indian Navy Sports Sky Diving Team -- comprising the only AFF (Acelerated Free Fall) instructors in India -- made the first ever training skydive over the white continent of Antarctica.

Two AFF instructors -- Lt Cdrs Rajesh and MV Birajdar -- dropped from 11,600 feet after exiting at temperatures below minus 35 degrees Celsius. The two -- accompanied by Ms Shital Mahajan, a recepient of the National Adventure Award 2006 for her para-jump over the Arctic -- achieved wind speeds up to 220 KMPH (temperatures below minus 80 degrees Celsius) before they deployed their parachutes to land.

UNI DG VD HS2028