The Hindu : National : Army changes expedition route

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 19, 2005

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National

Army changes expedition route

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 19. The Maoist insurgency in Nepal has compelled the Army to make last minute changes in the route of an expedition to Mount Everest. The team, flagged off by the Chief of the Army Staff, J. J. Singh, will now fly to Lhasa from Kathmandu and drive down to the base camp from China before taking the more arduous north route from Tibet.

"We thought that for safety and security reasons they should go from the other route though this is a sporting expedition and the Nepalese Government has not stopped us," Gen. Singh told newspersons after flagging off the team comprising 10 women.

The expedition had earlier planned to take the South East Ridge route to the Everest. But that entailed trekking through areas dominated by the Maoists where they are engaged in a battle with the Royal Nepal Army.

Envoy meets Defence Minister

Incidentally, the Indian ambassador to Nepal, Shiv Shankar Mukherjee, who has been recalled to New Delhi for consultations, briefed the Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, today. It is understood that Pakistan's offer of military aid to Nepal and its implications were discussed at the meeting.

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