Guwahati/IBNS: It was indeed an unique moment for the seven members of Kanchenjunga expedition organised by Assam Mountaineering Association (AMA) when President of India Droupadi Murmu handed over the National Flag to the leader of the expedition Manas Barooah.
President Murmu handed over the tricolour at a special ceremony held in presence of Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and other dignitaries and AMA officials at the state guest house in Guwahati.
The expedition is now on its approach march towards the base camp in Nepal after leaving Guwahati on April 11 last.
It will be attempting to climb the summit at a height of 28,169 feet (8586m), the third highest in the world, around the middle of May next. Other members of the expedition include Dr. Jagdish Masumatary (Dy leader medical officer ), Upen Chakrabarty (Jt Dy Leader), Kaushik Das, Bhaskar Baruah, Jayanta Nath and Sekhar Bordoloi.
This is AMAs third venture to the mountain above 8,000 metres having climbed Mt Everest in 2016 after they were forced to abandon their attempt to climb it during 2015 because of an earthquake.
Since 1972 AMA, one of the oldest and most active mountaineering clubs in the north east, has so far organised a total of 36 expeditions to Himalaya.
Mt Everest apart, other notable expeditions of AMA include Mrigthuni, Bethartoli South, Kamet, Ganesh Parvat, Bhagirathi II, Gorichen II, Chaukhamba one, Satopanth , Koktang and Kedarnath Dome.
Commenting on the expedition veteran mountaineer of Assam and Chief Advisor of AMA, Satyen Sarma said Like Everest expeditions by the club earlier, this time also the team is experienced and tough.
The members have been selected after rigorous pre-expedition trials.Beside the leader Manas barooah who was the leader of the successful Everest expedition, Dr Basumatary and Upen Chakrabarty were also members of that expedition in 2016 . If all moves well and weather remains good , I am all hopeful of the teams success this time as well.
Sarma specially thanked the Government ofAssam and Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma for all the help they provided to the expedition.
This mega venture by AMA would not have been possible but for the grant and patronage we received from our chief minister and the state government, AMA advisor said.
