Tata Steel has supported the expedition of three tribal youths to Saser Kangri IV (24 331 ft) in Eastern Karakoram range of Himalayas at Ladakh, which took place between 10th July to 21st August, 2011. This is one of the Company’s continuous effort to empower and develop Leadership Qualities of the Tribal Youth of Jharkhand.

The three intreprid mountaineers are (a) Binita Soren (female) 24 years from Kesorsora Village in Rajnagar Block, who has completed Basic and Advance Mountaineering Courses with A Grade, participated in the Karakoram 18381 ft Expedition and climbed Mt. Stok Kangri 20305 ft under Ms Bachendri Pal (b) Sheelarani Mahato (female) 18 years of Tumung village in Rajnagar Block who has done her Basic Mountaineering Course with A Grade, climbed Stok Kangri 20305 ft and participated in TSAF programmes and (c) Meghlal Mahato (male) 29 years of Paharpur village Rajnagar Block who has completed both Basic and Advance Mountaineering Courses with A Grade and also climbed Mt. Stok Kangri 20305 ft under Ms Bachendri Pal.

The expedition cost, amounting to Rs 3 lakhs, has been borne by Tata Steel, thereby championing the cause of tribal welfare and empowerment. These young achievers will further be trained to take on even more daring expeditions by Tata Steel Adventure Foundation.

Of the entire team that took off for this expedition, two have successfully reached the Summit of this range; one of them being Meghlal Mahato of Jharkhand. It is for the first time that women have ventured for climbing Saser Kangri. Of the 3 women in the team , Binita Soren performed well whereby she reached a remarkable height of 22500 ft.

The Expedition had to face extreme bad weather and heavy snow conditions which made the climb even tougher. In all, 4 camps had to be established before the Summit Attempt. The plan to climb Saser Kangri 1 (25 171 ft) was abandoned for combination of bad weather and steep treacherous route which this expedition comprised.

Mt Saser Kangri is the highest citadel of the Eastern Karakoram. Its proximity to the sensitive Siachen glacier and Chinese territory has entailed that very few have ventured for the mountain over the years to climb on its sheer avalanche ridden battlements. Dangerous overhanging cornices, frequent ice and snow blocks rolling down the mountain faces, hidden crevasses, and steep routes has deemed this mountain to be highly inhospitable and unwelcoming to climbers wishing to test their mettle on rock and ice. It is considered one of the toughest peaks in India. Only four ascents have been recorded on it, of which just one has been that of an Indian civilian expedition. The present Expedition is only the second Civilian Expedition.

The Expedition organized by the Himalayan Club Kolkata and was led by experienced mountaineer Mr Pradeep Chandra Sahoo besides 7 other members of the Club.