Odisha CM to flag off Biju Patnaik Himalayan expedition

14 September, Bhubaneswar

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will flag off the Biju Patnaik Himalayan Expedition on September 16 with an objective to instill values of adventurism, discipline, team spirit and leadership among the youths.

The expedition will be headed and guided by Bachendri Pal, legendary mountaineer and first Indian lady to climb Mt Everest along with Premlata Agarwal, the first Indian lady to climb all the seven highest continental peaks, Rajendra Singh Pal, Everester.

The final expedition would be held from September 20 to October 5 next to Mt Rudugaira (19,100 ft) situated in Gangotri glacier of Uttarakhand with technical support from Tata Steel adventure foundation, Jamshedpur.

As many as nine boys and six girls from the state were selected through a three-tier selection process to participate in the expedition.

Odisha minister for sports and youth affairs Sudam Marndi along with officers of the state government and the Tata Steel will also present to encourage the young mountaineers.

The expedition, an annual programme was started by the sports and youth services department to commemorate the Biju Patnaik birth centenary celebration.

Official sources here said the first preparatory camp was held in Darjeeling, West Bengal, the second in Panchalingeswar in Balasore and the third preparatory camp in Uttarakhand to select the participants for the final expedition.