IMF team conquers Tirsuli

An Indian Mountaineering Foundation team has climbed the summit of 7035 metre high Tirsuli (West) in Kumaun Himalaya. According to information received from the base camp, team leader Gautam Dutta informed that six of its members and three support sherpas reached the summit after a grueling climb for about eight hours on June 12. The summiteers are Debarshi Dutta, Surata Chakraborty, Gautam Saha, K W Lyngdoh, Mohan Lal, Amares Kumar Jha, Phurba Sherpa, Tashi Sherpa and Sherpa Dorjee, said Dutta who led the 14-member expedition today. Tirsuli (West), though a little lesser in height as compared to many Himalayan giants, is known for its technical difficulties. Giving details of the venture, Dutta said the expedition team which left Delhi on May 22, set up its base camp in Bagini Kharak at an altitude of about 4550 metre on May 27. He said the expedition thereafter negotiated steep ice walls and dreaded falls to set up four more camps before making their bid for the summit. All the memebrs were safe and now on their return path, Dutta added. Other members of the expedition included Susanta Battacharjee who was the medical officer of the expedition, C V Asavraj, Rajat Janbir Raj and Pyamcha Mohan. The IMF is the apex body of mountaineering and adventure sports in the country.