The Indian Mountaineering Foundation New Delhi (IMF is the Apex mountaineering body in India) has proposed an Expedition to four 8000m peaks in the Everest region in 2020. These would be to Mt Everest (29028 ft), Mt. Lhotse (27940 ft) 4th Highest in the World, Mt. Nuptse (25790 ft)   and Mt Pumori (23494 ft).    This is being done with the approval received from the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, who also provide financial support to the IMF.

For selecting members for the above expeditions, the first selection camp was held at 2 locations - Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering, Jammu and Nehru Institute of Mountaineering Uttarkashi. Out of 100 candidates who appeared at these selections, 50 were selected for the second selection expedition to Mt. Trishul I (7120 m), a technically difficult peak to climb. It is located in Chamoli District in the State of Uttarakhand.  The Trishul Mountains form the south-east corner of the ring of peaks encircling the Nanda Devi Sanctuary. They are named after the trident of Lord Shiva.

The team to Trishul started from Delhi on August 28, 2019 and reached Sutol situated at a height of 2100 m on August 29, 2019. 

Thereafter following expedition itinerary, with regard to camps and dates, was followed:
Latakopri – transit camp 1 – 3080m – Load Ferry – 31st Aug
Chandani ghat – transit camp 2 – 3650m – Load Ferry – 1st Sep – 4th Sep
Homkund – base camp – 4370m- Load ferry and Occupy – 5th – 7th Sep
Camp 1 – 5100m – Load ferry and occupy – 9th Sep
Camp 2 – 5900m – Occupy – 10th Sep
Camp 3 – summit camp – 6350m – 12th Sep
Climbing / Summit period - 13th& Sep to 19th Sep

The 50 member team was divided into 5 smaller teams or ropes. Hemant Gupta was in rope 1 comprising 9 members. This team was given the responsibility of opening the route to camp -1 and camp – 2 and thereafter making the 1st summit attempt. However, the weather turned foul with snowfall and high chilling winds because of which they had to return to base camp. Rope 1 had set the stage for Rope 2 and Rope 3 to climb and they reached the peak on September 15, 2019.  Thereafter rope – 1 was given chance again to attempt the summit on September 17, 2019. As the Weather forecast was not good, taking advantage of the climbing window, rope -1 including Hemant, decided to summit directly from camp – 2. This was a good decision and Group 1 summited at 11 am on September 16, 2019.

Hemant found the Expedition a great learning experience. Planning, organizing and leading a big team required astute leadership skills. Hemant says that the Leadership skills that he experienced would help in the Leadership Courses that TSAF runs in Garhwal Himalayas and elsewhere. These include skills on team work, tolerance for adversity and uncertainty, decision making in adverse & difficult conditions, and working under constraints.

Ms. Bachendri Pal, Mentor, TSAF says “there will be many learnings while climbing a summit. These include observing people operating under difficult conditions, working together, taking initiatives, leading from the front keeping in mind the safety of self and team and ultimately coming down from the summit safely as well”.

About Tata Steel 
Tata Steel group is among the top global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of 33 million tonnes per annum (MnTPA). It is one of the world's most geographically-diversified steel producers, with operations and commercial presence across the world. The group (excluding SEA operations) recorded a consolidated turnover of US $22.67 billion in the financial year ending March 31, 2019. In 2018, Tata Steel acquired Bhushan Steel Ltd (now renamed as Tata Steel BSL Ltd).

A Great Place to Work-Certified^TM organisation, Tata Steel Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, is spread across five continents with an employee base of over 65,000.

Tata Steel retained the ‘Global Steel Industry Leader’ position in the DJSI 2018. The Company has been recognised as the Climate Disclosure Leader in ‘Steel category’ by CDP (2017). Besides being a member of the World Steel Climate Action Programme, Tata Steel has won several awards including the Prime Minister’s Trophy for the best performing integrated steel plant for 2016-17, ‘GreenPro’ certification for products (Tata Pravesh Steel Doors, Tata Structura, Tata Pipes) by CII, Authorized Economic Operator  (AEO) status (Tier 2) by the Directorate of International Customs (Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India), ‘Corporate Strategy Award’ by Mint (2018), Golden Peacock Award for Risk Management (2018) and Best Risk Management Framework & Systems Award (2019) by CNBC TV18. The Company also received the ‘Most Ethical Company’ award from Ethisphere Institute for the eight time (2019), Steel Sustainability Champion (2018) by the World Steel Association, Dun & Bradstreet Corporate Awards (2019), Golden Peacock HR Excellence Award by Institute of Directors (2018), ‘Best Companies To Work For’ recognition by Business Today, 'Asia's Best Integrated Report' award by the Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards (2017), among several others.

In 2018, the Company launched a corporate brand campaign #WeAlsoMakeTomorrow. (www.wealsomaketomorrow.com).

To know more, visit www.tatasteel.com | Follow us on

Disclaimer
Statements in this press release describing the Company’s performance may be “forward looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws and regulations. Actual results may differ materially from those directly or indirectly expressed, inferred or implied. Important factors that could make a difference to the Company’s operations include, among others, economic conditions affecting demand/ supply and price conditions in the domestic and overseas markets in which the Company operates, changes in or due to the environment, Government regulations, laws, statutes, judicial pronouncements and/ or other incidental factors.