NE Mt Everest Expedition flagged off
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 25 2013: The 1st North East India Mount Everest Expedition 2013 was flagged off today by Governor of Manipur Gurbachan Jagat from Kangla Utra Mamang.

The expedition, which is targeting to scale the Mount Everest is being participated by climbers from different states of North East India.

Department of Planning, Government of Manipur is organising the expedition with Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association (MMTA) as the executing body.

North Eastern Council (NEC) is funding the 70-day expedition programme.

The expedition team comprises of 16 climbers�seven from Manipur, two each from Mizoram, Arunachal Pardesh, Assam and Sikkim, and one from Meghalaya.

NE Mt Everest Expedition flagged off

Governor Gurbachan flagged off the expedition from Kangla Uttra Mamang at 2 pm.

The flagging off ceremony was also attended by PHED minister I Hemochandra, Chief Secretary and the Chief-de-Mission of the expedition DS Poonia, Agricuklture minister Md Nasir and other officials.

Addressing the function, Governor Gurbachan said, "Since the conquest of Mt Everest by Hillary and Tenzing on May 29, 1953, a number of people have scaled this peak and I m told that in recent years during the climbing season, there is a traffic jam near the peak with a very large number of climbers attempting to reach the peak" .

He said scaling the peak still remains as one of the most challenging human endeavours.

Mount Everest having an altitude of 8, 848 metre from the mean sea level as everyone of you is located at the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas, the Governor said.

The Great Trigonometric Survey of India in 1856 established the height of the Everest at 29, 002 ft (8, 840 m), he said and added that even though it was known to the Tibetans as 'Chomolungma (Holy Mother), as Tibet was closed to foreigners then, the Britishers did not know the native name and hence in 1865 named it as Mount Everest in honour of Sir George Everest, the predecessor of Andrew Waugh, the British Surveyor General of India, on whose recommendation the name was given.

"I hope that the team will have proper and adequate acclimatization so that they adapt to the harsh conditions.

I wish the team a safe and successful attempt and also hope that the weather holds during their attempt for the final assault.

I pray that they come back safe and sound after achieving the greatest honour for a climber.

The 16 member expedition team is expected to reach the summit of Mt Everest on May 18 .