Indian team scaled Mt Everest from Tibet side

Kathmandu, May 19: A 12-member team of the Indian Everest Expedition 2007, and 13 high altitude Sherpas has successfully climbed Mt Everest from the Tibetan side on May 15 and 16.

Six expedition members and six Sherpas summitted the world's highest peak on the first day, while six members and seven Sherpas scaled the peak on the second day, according to a press statement today issued by the Himalaya Expeditions Inc, which managed the expedition for the Indian team.

Led by Col I S Thapa, the Indian Army Expedition comprised of 20 members. Of them, 14 were climbers. The successful climbers are D J Singh, M Khandagle, Tshering Angchok, Balwant Singh Negi, Amardev Bhatt, Sachin Patil, Nandkumar Jagtap, Rambahadur Mall, Mingmar Gurung, Dayanand Dhali, Tejpal Singh and Khemchand.

The team had Sherpa Sirdar Chhiring Dorjee, who made a record by climbing Mt Everest three times in one season, deserves credit for establishing a statue of Lord Buddha atop Everest on the auspicious day of Buddha Purnima (May 2).

The Sherpas scaling the Everest with Indian team are Phurba Chotar, Karma Sherpa, Pasang Gyalgen, Ang Kami, Jangbu Sherpa, Sherap Sherpa, Damai Chhiri, Ngwang Pasang, Tashi Sherpa, Dawa Gyalzen and Tshering Finjo.

This is the fourth time that the Indian Army has successfully climbed Mt Everest. The Indian Army teams had scaled the peak in 2001, 2003 and 2005.

A total of 72 climbers have climbed the summit until May 18, according to the ministry of tourism and civil aviation.

Out of 20 teams permitted to climb the Everest, 11 teams have scaled the highest peak.

UNI