J&K cops gets heroic welcome for scaling Everest

KT NEWS SERVICE JAMMU, June 6: The triumphant Everest-scaling team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) was accorded a warm welcome at Gazetted officer Mess here, by the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

For the state police cops, it was a reunion with their family members after a gap of four months.

Hailing from small village Gurah Salathia selection grade Constable Ram Singh of was given a heroic welcome for scaling Mount Everest.

Singh and his partner Sajjad Haider who is from Kathua district was received by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu Zone K Rajindera and other senior police officers for biggest ever achievement in the history of Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Both constables were a part of the 14-member contingent that participated in the Indian Mount Everest South Kol Expedition.

However, only 10 mountaineers were able to scale the highest peak in the world including Singh whereas Sajjad failed due to ill health.

"On May 22 when we reached on top of the peak, I unfurled the Indian, state and J&K Police Department's flag and it was just like a dream coming true for me," Singh told.

We stayed for ten minutes on the top of the world and the view was mesmerizing.

We also prayed at the top," Ram said.

"The feeling that we climbed the world's highest peak has not really quite sunk in but we must say that with this feat we are now aware that even women can achieve anything if they have the determination”.

."It was heartbreaking for me when Sajjad has to leave the contingent due to poor health condition but he remained as inspiration for me throughout the way, which finally made to land on the highest mountain in the world," Singh added.

Meanwhile Sajjad had all applauds for his colleague and he is hopeful of scaling the Mount Everest next year.

IGP Rajindera said that it is a great honour for the Police Department and the mountaineers will suitably be rewarded for this achievement in a similar function whioch shall be held in Srinagar.

"This was just a welcoming home for our heroes but the final announcement of rewards will be made in Srinagar and it will be more than expectations," Rajindera said adding," the boys have inspired our department and soon a contingent of Jammu and Kashmir Police will be prepared for scaling the Mount Everest, which will be led by Ram." In the first ever independent Everest expedition of SGMI, Ram Singh Slathia was among the seven of its members, including two women, had successfully scaled the world's highest peak on May 22.

Meanwhile the SGMI team, led by its principal expedition leader G T Bhutia, arrived here yesterday from Nepal where they were gifted offerings of khadas (traditional silk scarves).

“The SGMI Everesters included D D Bhutia, Kunzang Bhutia, Phul Maya Tamang, Yangde Shrepa, Nima Wangchuk Sherpa, Yaduram Sharma and N Suraj Singh.

Three more persons from the police departments of Uttaranchal, Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir, were the members of the expedition team.” Bhutia had stayed back at the base camp charting out the success story for the SGMI, 43 years after it had last conquered the Everest.

He said the success was due to determination and long preparation.

"New records had also been created by this Everest team.

With this ascent, both Phul Maya Tamang (37) and Yangde Sherpa (31) became the first two women from the entire Northeast region to climb Mt Everest.

Tamang had earlier made an unsuccessful bid in 2003.

D D Bhutia was the first to scale the peak at 0420 hours followed by Kunzang Bhutia.

Nima Wangchuk Sherpa became the oldest person in India to climb the Everest at an age of 59 years.

The success haul of seven Everesters this time prompted the principal to say that good fortune was with them.

About us | Advertise | Other Publications | Subscriptions | Weather | Letters | Send Mail Disclaimer: Information is being made available at this site purely as a measure of public facilitation.

While every effort has been made to ensure that the information hosted on this website is accurate CHAIRMAN: VED BHASIN Kashmir Times Group of Publications Edited, printed and published by Prabodh Jamwal Editor-in-Chief, The Kashmir Times, Residency Road, Jammu, J&K, INDIA.

Executive Editor: Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal E-Mail: vbhasin@sancharnet.in, jmt_prabodh@sancharnet.in