Indo-Oz Army Expedition Scales Mt Shivling

New Delhi, Oct 4 (UNI) A joint Indo-Australian Army Mountaineering Expedition to Mt Shivling has successfully placed seven members atop the 6,543-metre peak in the Garhwal Himalayas.

According to an official spokesperson here, the first summit team comprised five Indians and two Australians -- including Lt Col Mathew David Rogerson, the leader of the Australian climbers -- and scaled the peak late last afternoon.

Other summitteers were Indian Army personnel Subedar Neel Chandra, Naik Jagmohan Singh, Lance Naiks Mangal Singh and Gyaltsen, and Rifleman Amit Kumar. The second Australian climber was Trooper Max Jonathan Pemberton.

The second summit team is slated to attempt the peak tomorrow, the spokesperson said.

The expedition -- flagged-off from here on September 5 -- includes nine members from the Australian Army, and 18 climbing members and nine support members of the Indian Army.

Both the Indian and Australian team leaders -- Lt Col MS Chauhan and Lt Col Rogerson -- have scaled heights of 8,000 metres.

UNI