Teenagers set off for Mount Kilimanjaro

Teenagers set off for Mount Kilimanjaro
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Highlights

The trek to Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak (19,341 feet) that consists of five contrasting ecosystems, is not all that easy as superstar Rajinikanth did his legs shake on the mountain to the popular song Kilimanjaro in Enthiran movie (Robo in Telugu). 

Hyderabad: The trek to Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak (19,341 feet) that consists of five contrasting ecosystems, is not all that easy as superstar Rajinikanth did his legs shake on the mountain to the popular song Kilimanjaro in Enthiran movie (Robo in Telugu).

But a 20-member team, at least 15 of them were teenagers, led by Malavath Poorna, youngest female ever to climb Mount Everest, sets off on a tough summit climb from Machame Gate in Tanzania on Wednesday.

Thanks to the Telangana government which made it possible for the students, who all belong to the marginalised sections, by coming forward to bear the expenses of Rs 46 lakh for the expedition.

While 10 of the girls are from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) in Medak district, the other six are studying in TSWREIS. Accompanying the team were three noted mountaineers-Padma Shri Awardee Gurmayum Anita Devi of Imphal, Adilabad Additional Superintendent of Police GR Radhika, who recently climbed Mt Everest, and Bimla Negi Deoskar of Nagpur. Raji Tammineni of Hyderabad is the guide.

The team which landed in Kilimanjaro on August 9, completed documentation formalities the next day before setting off at 1 pm (IST) on Wednesday to Machame Camp from Machame Gate, about 11 kilometres. The Machame route, which the team is taking, traverses through high alpine desert that also presents a magnificent view of ice fields. This tough route is also known as ‘Whisky Route.’ The Machame route is about 62 kilometres to and fro.

“The first two days are critical due to the drastic change in the elevation where they trek to Shira Camp located at an altitude of 12,500 feet from Machame Gate’s 5,400 feet,” Shekhar Babu Bachinepally, the head of Transcend Adventures and Rock Climbing School in Bhongir, who himself climbed several mountains in India, China and Nepal, told The Hans India from the base camp.

Fittingly, the team will reach the summit Uhuru on Mt Killimanjaro on the Indian Independence Day- August 15–and hoist the Indian tri-colour flag. The team members are–Thambigari Manjula, Godugu Ramya, Begari Anasuja, Markanti Nagamani, Lunavath Mounika, Gamani Narsamma, Lambadi Booli, Jala Kavitha, Eara Jyothi, Chiluka Kamala (from KGBV), Vavilla Puja, Dugge Mounika, Gugulothu Sindhu, Rangagalla Balraj and Nallapothula Krishna (from TSWREIS).

Meanwhile, Additional Superintendent of Police of Adilabad GR Radhika, who had scaled Mt Everest in May, is also part of the team.

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