Maratha Regiment summits Mt Kun

The Maratha Regiment of the Indian Army successfully summited the 7,077-metre high Mt Kun near Kargil, a statement said on Friday.

Flagged off on July 17 from Pune, the expedition to commemorate "Maratha Regiment's 250 years of valour and victory" was completed on Monday, an official statement said.

Mt Kun of Nun Kun massif is one of the toughest peaks of 7,000 meter-plus category and considered a benchmark to be achieved before attempting the Everest summit.

"With its steep gradient, glaciated approach and unreliable weather, it presented a daunting challenge to our expedition team led by Lt Colonel Yogesh Dhumal," the statement said.

The expedition team reached its road-head camp on August 10 after undertaking a final phase acclimatisation training at Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering in Sonamarg.

"The daunting challenge to scale Mt Kun began in earnest and the expedition team began its climb progressing steadily to establish three staging camps along the treacherous slopes of Mt Kun.

"The requirement of climbing in stages was due to the need to ferry loads and acclimatise at various altitudes. And finally, inspite of blizzard like conditions and fighting off the fresh snowfall on August 20 at 10.45 a.m, the Maratha Regimental flag found its rightful place atop Mt Kun," the statement said.

--IANS

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