Kalahandi, YNN (Lingaraj Mishra): A spirited team of 26 mountaineers from Odisha’s Kalahandi district has triumphantly completed the demanding Nagtibba trek in the Himalayas, Uttarakhand. The expedition, spanning from 1 April to 11 April, stands out as Odisha’s inaugural trekking venture sanctioned by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF).
The group, made up of 20 enthusiastic students and six officials, demonstrated extraordinary resilience and determination. Participants included students from various schools across Kalahandi: Bikash Gahir, Ranju Rana, Madhusmita Sahu, and Tanushree Sahu from Risida Higher Secondary School, Karlamunda; Sasmita Rana, Puja Bhoi, and Pratima Patra from Madanpur Rampur Higher Secondary School; Aswani Dungri from Jayadurga Uchcha Vidyapitha, Madanpur Rampur; Ajay Majhi, Gitanjali Majhi, and Sarita Deep from Vijayanand Panchayat Higher Secondary School, Tulapada under Narla block; Pusparaj Podh and Rubina Bag from Narla Panchayat Higher Secondary School; Priyanka Putel from Government Higher Secondary School, Rupra Road; eighth-grader Raj Majhi from Govt. Upper Primary School, Rupra; and Ghanashyam Kumar, Rahul Bemal, and Juli Sahu from Higher Secondary School under Maa Manikeswari University, Bhawanipatna.
The expedition was led by Everest climber and international mountaineer Jogabyasa Bhoi, with support from senior mountaineering instructors Romanchal Bhoi and Dhanpati Bag, as well as Dr Ghanshyam Behera, Head of Botany at Maa Manikeswari University. Rose Mary Rashmita Ekka, a geography lecturer from the university, and adventure guide Puja Pradhan from Bargarh guided the female trekkers. The team, comprising 15 women and 11 men, showcased a commendable gender balance.
The journey kicked off in Dehradun, winding through Pantwari to the base camp. On 5 April, the adventurers set out at 4 a.m., summiting the 10,000-foot Nagtibba peak by 12:30 p.m. after an arduous climb. At the top, they proudly unfurled the national flag and chanted salutations to Maa Manikeswari and Lord Jagannath, marking their victory. The team lingered at the summit for nearly an hour, engaging in discussions on geographical studies, glacier conservation, Himalayan preservation, and the vital need for water security awareness.
Despite chilly temperatures dipping to 4°C–5°C, the trekkers pressed on, later descending to Vyas Camp before making their way back via Dehradun and Haridwar to Delhi. Beyond the thrill of the adventure, the expedition doubled as a research opportunity and a platform to champion environmental awareness.
Financial backing for the trek came from Vedanta Aluminium, which donated ₹4,00,000, alongside ₹50,000 from the Vikash Group of Institutions, ₹30,000 from the Kalahandi Collector, and ₹20,000 from the local MP. Additional support was provided by Youth for Water Plus and UNICEF Odisha, who supplied the team with T-shirts.
Jogabyasa Bhoi hailed the group’s success as a moment of pride, with the potential to elevate Kalahandi, Odisha, and India’s standing globally. He, alongside Romanchal Bhoi and Dr Behera, called for sustained encouragement from district authorities, MPs, MLAs, and the state government to foster such talent. The team expressed deep gratitude to all sponsors and supporters.
The Kalahandi mountaineers are due to return home on 11 April, their accomplishment a shining example of bravery and an inspiration for aspiring adventurers.
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