CM flags off police team for Everest expedition

DEHRADUN: Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Thursday flagged off a 15-member team of mountaineers from the

Uttarakhand

police to scale Mount Everest, world’s highest peak this summer. The expedition is being led by IG SDRF

Sanjay Gunjyal

, who was a part of the team to Mt Satopanth and Mt Bhagirathi II.

In the event at police lines,

Rawat

said that the experience gained in the process will help the police team in tackling any emergency situation in the future. “I am confident that this team of talented people will definitely scale the peak. Himalayas have always been a topic of interest for litterateurs, environmentalists, geologists and mountaineers,” said the CM.

He, however, did not fail to mention that it was a difficult route and the mountaineers needed to move ahead with caution. Before flagging of the expedition, the CM handed over the national flag and state police flag to the team leader.

On the occasion, DGP

Anil Raturi

said that Uttarakhand is the first state to send a team of policemen for Everest expedition. He claimed that the mission would boost the morale of policemen and help them largely in future challenges. “This expedition will help them in future operates in tough conditions and far flung areas,” added the senior police officer.

Sanjay Gunjyal, inspector general (SDRF), said, “It is a big challenge for us and we are confident of accomplishing the mission. Earlier, we have scaled 7,050m Mt Satopanth, 6,512m Mt Bhagirathi II and the 5,948m Kalindi Khal trek.”

Earlier, 21 police personnel were shortlisted for the selection, out of which 15 were finalized by the selection committee comprising senior police officers.