Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 26 (IANS) Discovery Channel will air a programme on the Indian Army’s women scaling Mount Everest.

This is the first time an army women’s contingent has scaled the Everest summit from the South Ridge route. The route was used by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953.

The Indian Army has appreciated the efforts of Discovery Channel to undertake the coverage of such an expedition for the first time. “Such coverage … will provide a platform for future joint ventures with the Discovery Channel on issues related to sports and adventure in the Indian Army,” Lt. Gen. S.P. Tanwar, director general of military training, said in a statement.

The collaboration with the Indian army was also a first for Discovery.

The production team of the channel went with the expedition to capture the gruelling attempt on the summit by a group of seven Indian Army women officers.

The first army women’s team to scale Everest in 2005 had approached from the North route via Tibet.

“Discovery Channel is delighted to cover this unique and distinguished expedition by Indian Army’s women officers. We are committed to present stories of success and achievement from India to audiences around the world,” said Rahul Johri, senior vice president and general manager - South Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific.

The army team was led by Col. Ajay Kothiyal and included seven Indian Army women officers: Capt. Deepika Rathore (Rajasthan), Capt. Namrata Rathore (Uttarakhand), Capt. Prachi R. Gole (Maharastra), Maj. N. Linyu (Nagaland), Maj. Neha Bhatnagar (Rajasthan), Capt. Poonam Sangwan (Haryana) and Capt. Smitha (Karnataka).

The programme is expected to be aired later this year.