Six members of Indian Army Mountaineering Expedition reached the summit of Mt Everest at 0545h (IST) this morning. The six summiteers are Capt DJ Singh, Sub Maruti Khandagle, Hav Balwant Singh Negi, Hav Tshering Angchok, Hav Amardev Bhatt and Sep Sachin Patil. The expedition team is being led by Lt Col IS Thapa of the 4 MARATHA LIGHT Regiment. With this unprecedented feat, the Indian Army has furthered its formidable reputation in the international mountaineering fraternity having summitted Mt Everest four times. Infact in last seven years, Army mountaineers have scaled a 8000 Mtr peak every year to include Mt Everest (8848m) in 2001, 2003 & 2005 and Annapurna – I (8096m) in 2004, which is a remarkable achievement.
The Army Everest Expedition team was flagged off by Gen JJ Singh, Chief of the Army Staff on 20 Mar 07. Gen JJ Singh being a mountaineer himself, evinced keen interest in planning and conduct of the expedition at every stage and personally monitored the progress of the team during the expedition. It had left Delhi for Lhasa via Kathmandu on 28 Mar 07 and reached Base Camp at 16,990 ft on 07 Apr 07. It established Advance Base Camp at 21,190 ft on 16 Apr 07 and Camp – 1 (23,120 ft ) on 18 Apr 07. Stocking of Summit Camp at a height of 27,220 ft was carried out on 21 Apr 07, after which the team was forced to return to Base Camp due to inclement weather conditions. The team recommenced its move upwards from Base Camp on 10 May 07 and reached Summit Camp on Monday 14 May 07. On the night of 14 May 07 the team started from Summit Camp towards the summit. Walking in pitch dark night with the help of headlamps, the team made steady progress and stood on summit of Mt Everest at 29,028 feet – literally on top of the world, at break of the dawn today.
The expedition is being conducting and coordinated by Army Adventure Wing of Directorate General of Military Training at Army Headquarters.
SKS/SSS
(Release ID :27902)