Antony flags in Army Everesters

New Delhi, July 10 (UNI) Defence Minister A K Antony today flagged in the Indian Army's Mt Everest expedition team which successfully scaled the world highest peak.

The 23-member team predominantly composing officers and men from the Maratha Light Infantry regiment, was led by Lt Col I S Thapa while Capt N S Chandel was the deputy leader.

The expedition was flagged off on March 20, 2007 and the team reached Lhasa on March 31, 2007. It left Lhasa on April 2, 2007 for the Everest base camp and reached there five days later via Gyantse, Shigatse and New Tingri.

The base camp was located on Rongbuk glacier at a height of about 17,000 feet. The road from Lhasa terminated at the base camp.

Due to bad weather, the first group of six summiteers could scale Mount Everest only on May 15, 2007, with second group also of six summiteers scaling it the next day. On both days an equal number of Sherpas also accompanied the army personnel.

In the end a record number of 12 members scaled the 8850 m high peak and returned back without any major injury to anyone.

Chief of Army Staff Gen J J Singh was also present at the occassion.

UNI