Former Miss India finalist among others scales Mt Everest

KATHMANDU: A 53-year-old former Miss India finalist among other climbers successfully scaled Mt Everest this morning, the expedition organisers said.

According to Pasang Sherpa, Chairman at Pioneer Adventure Pvt Ltd, former model from Jammu & Kashmir Sangeeta Sindhi Bahl, among five climbers from his company, successfully scaled Mt Everest this morning.

“Bahl, the Miss India 1985 pageant finalist, made it to the roof of the world at around 8:40 am,” Sherpa said, adding that climbing guides Ngaa Tenji Sherpa and Lakpa Norbu Sherpa accompanied the Indian woman climber to the summit point. This makes her the oldest Indian woman to summit Mt Everest.

Before embarking on her journey to Khumbu region, Bahl, a former model from Jammu & Kashmir, had told THT that she wanted to climb Mt Everest to spread the message of early breast cancer detection.

Similarly, photo journalist Purnima Shrestha along with Ila Nuru Sherpa also successfully climbed the world’s highest peak, Sherpa shared. “She also carried a banner of Tata Memorial Hospital to support its Women Cancer Initiative,” Sherpa informed.

Likewise, according to Jiban Ghimire, Managing Director at Shangri-La Nepal Trek, Maria Perez, a woman climber from Chile, scaled Mt Everest today along with Lakpa Sonam Sherpa and Pasang Gelu Sherpa. "She is the breast cancer survivor," he said.

According to Iswari Poudel, Managing Director at Himalayan Guides Nepal Pvt Ltd, a total of six members, two guides and 13 climbing Sherpas made it to the summit early this morning. Brad Horn (Australia), Michael Read, Mike Davies, Penny Webster and Lydia Bradey from New Zealand, Gary Ervin and Robin Moore from the United States, Rob Smith (Ireland), Rinji Sherpa, Cheten Dorjie Sherpa, Chhiring Namgel Sherpa, Dawa Wongchu Sherpa, Chhewang Dorjee, Kaljang Dorjee Sherpa, Phura Dorjee Sherpa, Rinjen Palden Sherpa, Guru Bhote, Pemba Nuru Sherpa, Pasang Angiu Bhote, Pemba Sherpa and Mingma Tenjing Sherpa scaled the mountain, he informed.

Temba Tshiri Sherpa, Managing Director at Sherpa Khangri Outdoor, said that a few climbers including Rajesh Magar and Luckmee Syangden also scaled the mountain today. Seven Summit Treks also reported that all seven Indian climbers from National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports reached the summit point this morning.

Earlier, the world highest peak has recorded at least 233 summits from Nepal side after eight rope-fixing Sherpa first stood atop Mt Everest on May 13 this season.