April 26, 2024 23:25 (IST)
Follow us:
Indian Army Everest expedition flagged off
New Delhi, Mar 29 (IBNS) The Indian Army Everest Massif Expedition to scale Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse, was flagged off by Lt Gen MMS Rai, the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, at a ceremony held at South Block on Tuesday.
The 30-member Indian Army Expedition Team consisting of five officers, four junior commissioned officers and 21 members from other ranks will attempt to summit Mt Everest and Mt Lhotse (world’s fourth highest peak).
The team is being lead by Lt Col RS Jamwal, a reputed climber, who was also the team leader during the 2015 Everest expedition.
The expedition team will reach Everest Base Camp on Apr 14, 2016 and will make summit attempts between May 16-30.
Two members of the team will also be attempting the Everest- Lhotse traverse and five members will be participating in Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon (THEM) on May 29.
On completion of the expedition, the team will return to Delhi on Jun 10.
This is the same expedition team which was located at Everest Base Camp when tragedy struck Nepal on 25 April 2015 with a 7.9 Magnitude earthquake causing damage to life and property.
The avalanche had struck the Everest Base Camp from Mount Pumori destroying camps of many expedition teams, killing 22 international climbers and local sherpas, and injuring more than 70, some of whom were critical due to severe head injuries, according to reports.
The Indian Army’s Everest Expedition Camp was also in its path of the avalanche, but its members were no hurt.
According to the Defence Ministry, the Indian Army team immediately took control of the situation by regrouping themselves and started helping in rescuing causalities by providing stretcher bearers, as also providing shelter and rations to those in need.
As various agencies gradually moved their mountaineers down, Indian Army team was the last to leave Everest Base Camp.
Image: Lt. Gen. M.M.S. Rai with the Indian Army Everest Expedition Team in New Delhi on Tuesday./PIB
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
KKR set a target of 262 runs for PBKS with Sunil Narine and Phil Salt go on rampage to set record opening-stand in IPL 2024 Fri, Apr 26 2024
IPL: Punjab Kings win toss, opt to bowl first against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens Fri, Apr 26 2024
Royal Challengers Bengaluru keep hopes alive in IPL, register formidable win against Sunrisers Hyderabad Fri, Apr 26 2024
After historic Candidates Chess Tournament win, D Gukesh returns to rousing welcome in Chennai Thu, Apr 25 2024
Inaugural edition of Bengal Pro T20 to start from June 11 Thu, Apr 25 2024
Yashasvi Jaiswal hammers century, helps Rajasthan Royals beat Mumbai Indians by nine wickets Tue, Apr 23 2024
KKR vs RCB: Kolkata set 223-run target for Bengaluru in IPL clash Sun, Apr 21 2024
IPL: RCB win toss, opt to bowl first against KKR at Eden Gardens Sun, Apr 21 2024
Vinesh Phogat makes the cut for Paris Olympics 2024 Sat, Apr 20 2024