Indian climbers on a record-breaking streak at Mount Everest

KATHMANDU: On the eve of the Diamond Jubilee of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary's historic feat of conquering Mount Everest, a number of Indian climbers today celebrated their record-setting expeditions to the world's highest peak.

India's Arunima Sinha, 25, became the first Indian amputee to climb the 8,848 metre-high summit whereas Lovraj Singh Dharamshaktu, 43, set a record by becoming the first Indian to scale it five times.

At the age of 16 year and 7 months, Nameirakpam Chingkheinganba became the youngest Indian to reach the summit. The 11 grader from Manipal, broke Ajun Vapayee's record of climbing Everest at the age of 16 years 11 months.

Arunima, a former national level volleyball player, had lost one of her legs after being thrown off a moving train or resisting a chain-snatching attempt by some criminals, while travelling from Lucknow to Delhi on April 12, 2011.

Arunima was inspired by Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to conquer Mt Everest, and started training at the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF)camp in Uttarkashi under her guidance.

"it was the biggest achievement in my life and I was extremely happy to reach the summit," Arunima said.

Arunima and Lovraj reached the summit on May 21 along with four other Indian climbers.

"I made the dream of my father come true," said Nameirakpa, whose father is also a mountaineer. "I saw 2-3 dead bodies on way to the summit from the fourth camp, which scared me a lot," recalled the young mountaineer.

He had climbed the Everest under the banner of First North-East Top of the World Expedition along with ten other Indian climbers.

As many as six other climbers from that group has set new national records in the process.

Anusha Tamsenpa, 32, became the first woman from Arunachal Pradesh to climb Everest, while Wansuk Myrthong, 31, became the first woman from Meghalaya to climb the mountain.

Other record-setters of the group include N Bidyavati Devi, the first women from Manipur to climb Everest. Tarun Saikia from Assam and David Zohmangaiha from Mizoram are the first citizen from their state to scale the summit.

At least 55 Indian climbers have already reached the top of Mount Everest this year and almost equal number of other India climbers are on their way to the summit.