A remarkable team of climbers from the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) in Darjeeling successfully scaled the highest peak of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania on Thursday. The expedition was led by Gp Capt. Jai Kishan, the principal of HMI, and included:
- Uday Kumar (a physically challenged climber)
- Four additional climbers
Expedition Overview
The expedition, named “K2K” (Khangchendzonga National Park to Kilimanjaro), was conducted under the aegis of the defence ministry. It was specifically recognized as a divyangjan (physically challenged) expedition due to Uday Kumar’s participation.
Key Details:
- Kilimanjaro: The highest peak in Africa.
- Uhuru Peak: The summit of Kilimanjaro, standing at 19,341 feet (5,895 meters).
Journey and Achievements
- August 4: The climbers began their journey to the base camp.
- August 7: Reached Kibo Hut at an altitude of 15,500 feet. They displayed a 7,800-sqft Indian national flag there, a task accomplished using ropes, ground nets, and anchors.
- August 8: The team started their final ascent to Uhuru Peak around 3am. Despite challenging conditions, including screes, an 85-degree gradient, and an alpine desert, the climbers reached the summit at 1pm after a 10-hour climb.
- At the summit, they unfurled the Tricolor flag.
Recognition
- Uday Kumar: Praised for his courage and determination as an amputee climber who completed the climb using crutches.
- Previous Achievement: On March 17, Kumar summitted Mt Rhenock (16,500 feet) as part of an HMI expedition.
HMI’s Legacy
The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, founded on November 4, 1954, by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, is renowned globally. It functions under the defence ministry and is recognized as one of the premier mountaineering institutes in the world.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
- Who led the team of climbers from HMI on the Kilimanjaro expedition?
- A) Uday Kumar
- B) Gp Capt. Jai Kishan
- C) Jawaharlal Nehru
- D) An unnamed climber
- What was the name of the expedition from Khangchendzonga National Park to Kilimanjaro?
- A) K2K
- B) K2K2
- C) Khangchendzonga-Kilimanjaro Expedition
- D) Kilimanjaro Challenge
- At what altitude did the team display the Indian national flag?
- A) 15,500 feet
- B) 19,341 feet
- C) 10,000 feet
- D) 7,800 feet
- What time did the team begin their final ascent to Uhuru Peak?
- A) 6am
- B) 3am
- C) 9am
- D) 12pm
- What was Uday Kumar’s notable achievement in a previous expedition?
- A) Scaling Mt Kilimanjaro
- B) Summitting Mt Rhenock
- C) Climbing Mt Everest
- D) Reaching the summit of K2