ONGC expedition embarks on Mt Everest mission

Kathmandu, April 7: An 11-member ONGC Everest Expedition Team left here on Friday for Namche Bazar in their mission to scale Mount Everest, the world's tallest peak.

This is the first time that an Indian corporate has undertaken a mission to send a team to climb the world's highest peak.

Earlier, on March 28, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan flagged off the ONGC Everest Expedition at an impressive ceremony held in Delhi. The send-off to the mission was attended by Director Technical and Field Services Shashi Shanker and Director-Human Resource D.D. Misra.

Led by Capt. S.K. Sangwan, Manager HR, ONGC, the 11-member contingent will receive expert guidance of Loveraj Singh Dharamshaktu, Asst. Commandant – BSF, who has been deputed by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF).

This is an attempt by ONGC, with a workforce of 33,000, to prepare a team of youngsters who had little or no formal knowledge or skills in mountaineering craft to attempt to scale the world's highest peak, a statement here said. 

The genesis of ONGC's Everest Expedition began about two years back in October 2015 when ONGC Everest successfully completed a trek to Everest Base Camp (17,000ft) with a team of 21 climbers.

From here began the mission to scale Mt. Everest in 2017.

Over 150 Everest aspirants underwent a strenuous selection process before the final team for the summit was identified. The entire selection and training took nearly 15 months and had an eight-stage elimination process which tested the physical and mental endurance levels of the participants.

To celebrate this historic moment, ONGC invited top officials from Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, Department of Tourism, Tourism Ministry of Nepal, Tourism Board, Nepal Mountaineering Association, Nepal Expedition Operators Association, Nepal Trekking Agencies Association, Himalayan Rescue Association, NMA Everest Chapter, Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents, Himalayan Climate Initiative, and the Mountaineering Division of Nepal, for sharing the thoughts behind this initiative.