New Delhi, August 12: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today flagged off the first Indian mountaineering and skiing expedition to the world’s highest point Mount Everest.
The 28-member Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) team of mountaineers, which include one woman member Inspector Bhanita Timungpi, will set their base camp at 5,334mt to the end of this month enroute to the 8,848mt Himalayan peak.
After touching the highest point in the last week of September, the mountaineers will ski down the stiff slope of the Himalayas – an unique effort by any Indian contingent ever.
“Experiences gained from such expeditions help the force save many lives during the natural calamity conditions. These are also crucial for the survival training and grooming of leadership qualities among them,” said Chidambaram, who handed over the tri-colour to expedition leader DIG Harbhajan Singh.
–PTI