New Delhi, June 2
In the 40th year of India’s first-ever successful expedition to the Mount Everest, after the Indian Air Force (IAF) team’s heroics on May 30, now four women from the Army have become the first-ever team from the force to reach the summit this morning.
As the teams from the IAF and China and Nepal searched for the missing member of the IAF team, Sqn Ldr S.S. Chaithanya, throughout the day through search missions, history for the Army was created by the team of Capt Shipra Mazumdar, Capt Ashwini Pawar, Cadet Tshering Ladol and Trainee Dechin Lhamo, who scaled the 8848-metre peak between 6.15 am and 9.30 am today.
The peak was also summitted by five other members of the support team, Major S.S. Shekhawat, Subedar Surjeet Singh, Naib Subedar Jagat Singh, Havildar Topgey Bhutia and Commando Kaman Singh. Five sherpas also accompanied the team.
The Army women scaled the Mount Everest from the Chinese side. The Army team was flagged off by the Chief of Army Staff, Gen J.J. Singh, on March 18. The chief also congratulated the team on its success. Meanwhile, the search and rescue teams from the IAF and the Army continued the herculian task of locating missing Sqn Ldr Chaithanya for the third day today.
