4 Maha tribal students scale Mt Everest

Four tribal teenagers from two Ashram schools in Chandrapur district in eastern Maharashtra scaled Mt Everest, the highest peak of the world, on Wednesday.

The four students — Umakant Madavi (19), Parmesh Aale(19) and Manisha Dhurve (18), from Devada Ashram School and Kavidas Katmode (18), from Jivati Ashram School — reached the summit between 3.25 am and 4.35 am on Wednesday.

Breaking the news about the four tribal students having scaled the summit of Mt Everest earlier in the morning, Maharashtra’s Finance and Planning Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, who is also the Guardian Minister of Chandrapur, said: "It is a matter of pride for us...It is a historic achievement"

The four are members of a 10-member team of tribal students that had undertaken the mission as part of 'Mission Shaurya' which is an initiative of the State Tribal Welfare department and the office of the Chandrapur district Collector.

According to reports reaching here, Kavidas and Umakant reached the summit at 3.25 am, while Parmesh and Manisha reached at 4.25 am and 4.35 am, respectively, on Wednesday.

Two other students Vikas Soyam and Indu Kannake will make an attempt to scale the summit on Thursday and Friday, while two others Vikas Soyam and Indu Kannake will attempt to reach the summit on Thursday and Friday, respectively.

The tribal students’ team, comprising members aged between 18 and 21, and hailing from Government ashram schools based at Borda, Devada and Jeevti in Chandrapur district, had left on a 60-day expedition on April 11 from Mumbai for Kathmandu.

The team also comprised manager-cum-trainer Vimla Negi-Devaskar, a high-altitude expert doctor, support staff and 15 sherpas.

The ground work for the expedition process began in July, 2017, with schools screening 60 students from which 45 were selected for foundation training that was held subsequently at Wardha in eastern Maharashtra.