Indian Army expedition eye Mt Everest conquest

Kathmandu, Apr 1: Two teams of the Indian Army will embark on the challenging journey to scale Mt Everest and the fourth highest peak Mt Lhotse this week.

The Indian Army soldiers and Indian Army NCC girl cadets will depart from Kathmandu on April 3-4 respectively. Fifty years ago, an Indian team led by Lieutenant Commander MS Kohli conquered the 8,848 metres Mt Everest for the first time in 1965.

"The Indian Army Everest Massif Expedition 2015 was launched last year as well, on Mt Everest and Mt Lhotse, however due to the devastating earthquake that Nepal witnessed on April 25, 2015 & subsequent tremors, the attempt was halted by an Avalanche at the Base Camp," according to an Indian Embassy press release.

"However, the expedition team continued to involve themselves in the relief operations at Base Camp with an aim to extend aid to other stranded mountaineers from various parts of the world," the release said.

The Indian Army team was the last to de-induct from the Everest Base Camp after having wholeheartedly contributed to the relief efforts. Ambassador of India to Nepal, Ranjit Rae met the Indian teams of the expedition and wished them a successful journey to Mt Everest & Mt Lhotse.

"This is the most inspiring way to stand with Nepal when it is most needed after the devastating earthquake that we witnessed in the holy land of Pashupatinath. "This attempt to summit Everest would be a step ahead in further strengthening the age old relations between our two countries," he said.

The Indian Army Expedition Team comprises of 5 officers, 4 Junior Officers and 21 personnel from other ranks. Lieutenant Colonel RS Jamwal, VSM, a highly experienced and reputed mountaineer who himself summitted Mt Everest twice before, is the expedition leader .

Fourteen members of the team will attempt to climb Mt Everest and 9 members of the team will attempt to scale Mt Lhotse. Five members of the team will thereafter participate in the world's highest Marathon which is Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon in the Everest region.

The Indian Army NCC Girl Cadets team comprises of 4 officers, 2 Junior officers, 7 personnel from other Ranks, 2 Girls Cadet Instructors and 10 NCC Girl Cadets.

Colonel Gaurav Karki of the Indian Army, one of the most qualified mountaineering instructor is leading the team. More than 60 army personnel from different countries have set their sights on the top of the world. The Indian Army team has an objective of summitting Mt Everest in mid May 2016.

PTI