Journalist Manik Banerjee, Lt Col Jamwal receive mountaineering awards

Veteran mountaineer and journalist Manik Banerjee has been awarded the lifetime achievement award by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) in recognition of his contribution to mountaineering over four decades, an IMF release said on Sunday.

Banerjee was presented the 'Nain Singh Kishen Singh Lifetime Achievement Award' for 2017 for the promotion of mountaineering and allied adventure activities in various media, besides spreading a spirit of adventure among the underprivileged, the release said.

Noted climber Lt Col R.S. Jamwal was given the 'IMF Gold Medal' for his achievements in mountaineering and rescue work, beside campaigning for environmental awareness.

Veteran woman mountaineer Chandra Prabha Aitwal and Air Vice Marshall Ranjit Kumar gave away the awards in the presence of IMF President Col H.S. Chauhan (retd) and other leading mountaineers during an Annual General Meeting of the IMF here on Saturday.

Apart from first ascent of Kaburu Dome in the Sikkim Himalayas and Jogin Two and first Indian ascent of Uja Tirche (both in the Garhwal Himalayas), Banerjee has participated in many major Himalayan expeditions, including Mt Everest, Nanda Devi, Tirsuli and Herdeol during the 70s and 80s.

Lt Col Jamwal holds the distinction of reaching Mt Everest thrice -- in 2013, 2016 and 2017 -- beside climbing many other peaks in the Indian Himalayas.

He was also actively involved in rescuing many trapped climbers in and around Kumbu Ice Fall, the base camp for Everest expeditions, from Nepal during the 2015 earthquake.

The IMF general body re-elected Col H.S. Chauhan as its President for 2017-18 and 2018-19.

--IANS

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