Siliguri, Oct. 25 -- Members of the North Bengal Explorers Club have successfully completed an expedition to Lamkhaga Pass, one of the most challenging high-altitude routes in the Indian Himalayas, connecting Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

Located at an altitude of 17,320 feet (5,282 metre), the Lamkhaga Pass expedition was undertaken by a six-member team comprising Dipankar Dey, Babla Dey, Azimun Akhtar (Sonali), Agomoni Dutta, Shubhendu Bhattacharya and Ritesh Kumar Kedia. All are the residents of Siliguri.

The expedition began from Harshil in Uttarakhand on October 18. On October 20, the team established its base camp at Kanatal at an altitude of 14,420 feet, from where preparations for the final ascent began. On October 22, Shubhendu and Dipankar began the final summit push at around 5.30 am. Battling challenging terrain, harsh weather conditions and the effects of high altitude, Bhattacharya reached the summit at around 9.30 am, successfully scaling the pass at 17,320 feet.

"It was an extremely challenging climb, but the determination of the team kept me going. Reaching the summit after negotiating the difficult terrain and high altitude was a very special moment for me. This achievement belongs not only to me but to the entire North Bengal Explorers Club," said Bhattacharya, who successfully summited Lamkhaga Pass.

Dipankar Dey, meanwhile, reached around 15,800 feet before deciding to return to the base camp after assessing his physical condition. The expedition tested the team's endurance, courage, confidence, teamwork and mental strength as the members navigated the difficult Himalayan terrain.

Shubhajit Bhadra, a member of the club's executive committee said: "All the members of the expedition team are safe and in good health. The team will return to Siliguri on the afternoon of October 26."

The successful expedition has added another significant achievement to the North Bengal Explorers Club's mountaineering and adventure legacy, bringing pride to the club and the city.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.