City man-led team to climb Everest, set record

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A seven-member expedition to Mount Everest led by a city resident could well turn out to be the most inexpensive climb to the world’s highest peak in the last few years. The team would also attempt the Guinness world record for the ‘highest-staged concert on earth’.

Hyderabad resident Bachinepally Shekhar Babu, the first Indian to climb Mount Everest without any organisational support and recipient of the prestigious Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award, will lead the expedition. Mr Shekhar Babu, who is manager (projects) at the AP Tourism Development Corporation, is the only Indian civilian to climb multiple “death-zone” peaks, mountaineers’ reference to altitudes above 8,000 metres.

Mr Shekhar Babu said, in the last few years, such mountaineering expeditions have been costing about Rs 3 crore to Rs 4 crore. But their upcoming mission will cost just Rs 95 lakhs.

Reaching Kathmandu on March 25, the team would start the expedition on March 30 from Lukla, he said. Before Everest Base Camp, the team will attempt a 6,000m high peak as part of acclimatisation. The team is expected to reach Base Camp by second week of April and the advance base, by April end. After setting up of all four camps before 8,000m, the team aims to reach the summit in the first week of May, he said.