NCC girl cadets to scale Mount Shitidhar

A group of 18 NCC girl cadets will attempt scaling the over 17,000 feet high Mount Shitidhar in Himachal Pradesh's Manali, officials said Monday.

National Cadet Corps Director General Lt.Gen P.S. Bhalla flagged-off here the mountaineering expedition that will start in first week of October.

He exhorted the young cadets to undertake the challenge with cool courage, professionalism and an indomitable will.

"The girls have been trained extensively on rock climbing, rappelling, search and rescue techniques, snow and ice craft, and crevasse rescue," said a defence ministry official.

The expedition is being led by Lt.Col. Vishal Dubey and Captain Deepika Rathore, who was a member of the first Indian Army Lady Officers expedition to scale Mount Everest in 2012, is the deputy leader.

A woman medical officer and 15 service personnel will also be accompanying the cadets.

"The expedition will provide precious opportunity to the cadets to fathom their physical and mental limits, explore the pristine and serene beauty of the Himalayas appreciate the bio diversity and delicate ecological issues," the official added.