Kathmandu:

The 12-member Indian Army expedition team to Everest led by Lt Col Iswor Singh Thapa has created history for its country by being the highest member team to have successfully scaled the peak. This information was shared at a press meet organised at the Indian Embassy on May 30 to formally announce their feat. The two-group team saw themselves at the top on May 15 and 16 scaling through the North-face.

“We are very happy that we were able to put up a statue of Buddha atop Everest on Buddha Purnima (May 2),” a proud Thapa said. One of their 13 Sherpa guides, Tsering Dorji, put the statue there. Thapa congratulated Dorji also for reaching the peak three times in the same expedition –– May 2, 15 and 16.

“The most crucial time for us during the entire journey was when we had to decide whether to move forward or not at around 1:30 am under heavy snowfall. Had we aborted then, the journey would not have been complete for six of us. I am really proud that we moved on,” Thapa said talking to this daily.

This is the Indian Army’s fourth expedition to Everest and came in part of its promotion of adventure sports among its army men and women.