From rxpgnews.com
Indian Army puts 24 on Mount Everest
By IANS,
May 16, 2007 - 5:21:56 PM
Kathmandu, May 16 - The Indian Army's 20-member Everest expedition team put six more soldiers and six Nepali Sherpas on the world's tallest peak Wednesday.
With this ascent, the army team headed by Lt Col Ishwor Singh Thapa of the 4th Maratha Light Infantry succeeded in putting altogether 24 people on the 8,848-metre summit.
On Tuesday, six soldiers had made the first ascent along with six Sherpas.
Capt D.J. Singh, Subedar M. Khandagle, Havildar Tshering Angchok, Havildar Balwant Singh Negi, Havildar Amardev Bhatt and Sepoy Sachin Patil reached the summit at 5.45 IST Tuesday along with Nepali Sherpas Chhiring Dorjee, Damai Chhiri, Ngwang Passang, Tashi sherpa, Dawa Gyalzen and Tshering Finjo.
While confirming Wednesday's victory, Himalaya Expeditions, the agency handling the team's logistics, said it was yet to receive details about Wednesday's summiters.
This is the fourth ascent of the world's most charismatic mountain by the army that had first achieved the feat in 2001. The second ascent came in 2003 and the third two years later, when the Indian Army women's team also made its first appearance on the top.
A 12-member Indian Air Force team headed by Commander R.C. Tripathi is also back among the Himalayan ranges, attempting to summit Mount Lhotse.
Besides the Indian Army expedition, an Indian is attempting an independent conquest of Mount Everest. Shekhar Babu from Andhra Pradesh was currently at an altitude of around 7,300 metres, waiting for the rush at the top to ease before he makes his final assault later this month.
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