Indian Army to mark 50 years of first climb by cleaning up Mt Everest

The world's highest garbage dump close to Mount Everest will get a cleaning this spring - thanks to the Indian Army. A team of 30 climbers is planning to bring down nearly 4,000 kg of non-biodegradable mountaineering waste left near the world's tallest peak by thousands of climbers over the years.

Updated on: Apr 10, 2015, 14:11:23 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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The world's highest garbage dump close to Mount Everest will get a cleaning this spring - thanks to the Indian Army.

A team of 30 climbers is planning to bring down nearly 4,000 kg of non-biodegradable mountaineering waste left near the world's tallest peak by thousands of climbers over the years.

"It will be an important message to everyone that we cannot litter our natural habitat," said India's ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae in Kathmandu on Friday.

The team, which has 5 officers, 3 junior commissioned officers and 22 from other ranks, will depart from Kathmandu for the Everest region on Saturday.

The expedition, to commemorate 50 years of the triumph over the Everest by Major AS Cheema, the first Indian to achieve the feat, will also undertake other challenges to mark the landmark event.

Fourteen members of the team will attempt to scale the Everest in 2 batches of 7 climbers each and 7 other members will climb the nearby Mount Lhotse, the fourth highest peak in the world.

"We have selected the best climbers in the army. They have undergone months of pre-conditioning and training in India and are ready," said Major RS Jamwal, a two-time Everest climber, who will lead the expedition.

Jamwal and another team member Hajari Lal will attempt to scale Mt Lhotse after climbing the Everest. Five members from the team will take part in the Everest Marathon next month.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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