Army calls back its Mount Everest expedition team post earthquake in Nepal

NEW DELHI: A 30-member mountaineering team of Indian Army, which was to scale the Mount Everest to mark the golden jubilee of the first Indian conquest of the mountain, has been called back following the devastating earthquake in Nepal.

The move came after the Nepalese authorities said the climb cannot happen because of the damage caused by earthquake.

The team was at the base camp when the quake struck leading to a massive landslide. However, the team was able to recover quickly and helped out nearly 100 people.

For about 70 climbers on the Mount Everest base camp, Major Ritesh Goel of the Indian Army was a "life saver".

Goel, who has also served in the Siachen, was part of the the Indian Army expedition team.

The 28-year-old not only provided first-aid and stabilised nearly 70 climbers, some with broken legs and hands, but also managed eight persons with serious head injuries for about 14-hours before they were rescued by helicopters.