IMPHAL, May 17: The 1st North East India top of the World Mt. Everest Expedition which was flagged off from Kangla by the Governor of Manipur Gurbachan Jagat on February 25, 2013 and subsequently by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee from Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on March 20, 2013 today successfully reached the summit of the the highest peak of the World- Mt. Everest (29,029 Ft.) at 7.35AM.
Anand Gurung from Sikkim was the first to summit Mt. Everest at 7.35AM followed by Nima Lama from Arunachal Pradesh at 8.30AM (1ST) while N. Bidyapati Devi from Manipur reached the summit at 9:30AM becoming the first woman from Manipur to summit Everest. For the remaining members, the leader of the Expedition Dr. L. Surjit Singh, President, MMTA advised to make the attempt for summit tomorrow due to heavy wind condition. Other members of the team attempting the summit are currently waiting for the opportune climate.
The teams had arrived at the Everest Base Camp on 5th April 2013 and were undergoing acclimatization, during which the team reached Camp-Ill, 24000 Ft. (Approx.) on 30th April 2013.
The three who summited Everest from the NE team today did so despite adverse weather, and windspeed touching 100km per hour, team leader and coordinator, Dr. L Surjit at base camp informed.
The three were too late to receive advice at South Col not to attempt summit today and to wait for fairer weather.
Six more from NE team will attempt summitting tomorrow, he added.
The 1st North East India top of the World Mt. Everest Expedition is the first ever expedition comprising exclusively of mountaineers from 6 states of North East India. 16 individuals from different states are participating in this expedition including the support team. It is being funded by North Eastern Council, Shillong, supported by Planning Department, Government of Manipur and being implemented by Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association, Manipur.
Meanwhile the Celebrity Media Group Manipur in a press statement has congratulated Bidyabati on reaching the summit of the highest peak in the world Mount Everest this morning.
Expressing unfounded happiness on the feat, the statement has said that the historic moment for the state has provided the people of the state to rejoice.
In another separate release, Parliamentary Secretary of Tourism and Sports , Manipur Mairembam Prithviraj has also congratulated Ningthoujam Vidyapati Devi saying, “I am very happy to learn about your achievement at becoming the first woman from Manipur to reach the summit of Mount Everest. I deeply appreciate your indomitable spirit to leave your footprints on the top of the world’s highest mountain this morning after fighting against all odds.”
The expedition team includes Anshu Jamsenpa, the first woman from Arunachal Pradesh, who has already scaled Mt. Everest twice and. N. Chinkheinganba, a 16-year-old boy who on completion of the expedition will be the youngest to scale the Mt. Everest.
Born on March 1, 1983, at Mongjam Maning Leikai in Manipur, Ningthoujam Vidyapati, a member of Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association completed her Advanced Mountaineering Course at National Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) , Uttarkashi in the year 2004 with a A Grade.
She was awarded Governor`s Gold Medal 2005, RK Sanatombi Devi award for Best mountaineer 2006 and Youth Award of NYK 2007.
She completed different mountaineering courses like Winter Training at Saichen Galcier 2004, Liaison Officer Course NIM 2006, Search and Rescue Course NIM 2007, Alpine Course NIM 2007, and Method of Instruction course HMI Darjeeling 2009. She is an Adventure Instructor of MMTA since 2006.