Indo-Nepal joint military team summits Mt Kanchenjunga
In a testament to Indo-Nepal military camaraderie, a combined mountaineering team on Monday successfully reached the 8,586 m (28,169 ft) summit of Mount Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest peak.
Led by Col Sarfraz Singh of the Indian Army and Captain Prashant Khanka of the Nepali Army, the nine-member expedition negotiated severe high-altitude conditions, including sub-zero temperatures and gale-force winds, during their final push from Camp IV (at 7,700 m) in the early hours of May 19. All team members reached the summit safely, unfurling the national flags of India and Nepal in a symbolic gesture of partnership before commencing a carefully phased descent.
The mission’s success follows rigorous joint training at the high-altitude warfare school, Gulmarg, and pre-expedition acclimatisation in the Sikkim Himalayas.
