Maharashtra policeman who scaled Everest airlifted to Delhi hospital

Maharashtra policeman Rafiq Shaikh Taher Patel, who scaled Mt. Everest last week and suffered frost-bite, has been rushed to the Army Hospital in New Delhi from Kathmandu on Monday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said here.

Patel, working with Aurangabad Rural Police, became the first policeman from the state to scale the world's tallest mountain, but suffered frostbite in his foot while returning to the Everest Base Camp.

Patel, 30, was airlifted from Lukla region to Kathmandu and admitted to a hospital there on Sunday for treatment.

Upon learning of his condition, Fadnavis said he called up Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and sought the best treatment for the policeman.

Parrikar directed Patel to be airlifted to New Delhi and he was admitted to the Army Referral Hospital for treatment on Monday, he added.

Fadnavis called up Patel and congratulated him on his achievement and assured the best of treatment at the hospital.

Aurangabad Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar and district Superintendent of Police N. Reddy have appreciated the government's efforts in the matter.

After two earlier unsuccessful attempts due to inclement weather conditions and natural calamities in the past two years, Patel against started on the difficult expedition on May 15 and finally succeeded in reaching the summit on May 19.

He hoisted the Indian tricolor and the Maharashtra police flag atop the world's tallest peak at 8,848 metres.

"Such a proud moment! Our Aurangabad Police Constable becomes the 1st policeman from Maharashtra to scale Mt Everest! " Fadnavis said in a tweet last week.

An avid mountaineer, Patel had scaled seven other tall peaks in the Himalayas including Mt. Dhaulagiri and Mt. Kanchenjunga.

For the Everest expedition, he availed financial help from friends and relatives and also took a loan of Rs.500,000 to finance the climb.

--IANS

qn/vd