Stuck at Kanchenjunga, mountaineers now in a 21-day 'Big Boss' challenge

It was a horrifying time initially for 75 trainees of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling, held up at 14,600 feet high Chaurikhang base camp at Kanchenjunga mountain ranges when the 21-day nationwide lockdown was imposed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

They were to finish their training two days after the lockdown was declared on March 24 and return to their respective places with the certificates, but little did they know they will be in a real life 'HMI 21 Days Big Boss Challenge'.

Safely brought back to Darjeeling where Asia's first mountaineering training centre is located, the 75 trainees, including two women, hailing from different parts of the country, are living up to the challenge by example.

"With the help of Sikkim and West Bengal governments we could bring back the trainees to the institute safely but the biggest task for me was to keep them safe and engaged during the lockdown," group captain and principal of HMI Jai Kishan told PTI from Darjeeling.

"So we thought of this Big Boss Challenge. Everybody is aware of the popular show on TV and we gave it a twist at HMI, well aware that it would cost us Rs 15 lakh extra as we are not charging a penny extra for them."
"We have reduced staff strength to minimum after the lockdown announcement, so I conduct the yoga, pranayam and meditation sessions, while Indian Navy's Dharmender look after physical training."