Asthma, failed attempt didn't stop IFS officer from climbing Mount Everest

Bengaluru: Despite suffering from asthama and failing in his previous attempt, 29-year-old S. Prabhakaran, the Deputy Conservator of Forests in Koppal division, has now become the first Indian Forest Service officer to climb the Mount Everest. The officer, who was felicitated, shared his experience on Monday.

In 2015, Mr Prabhakaran and four other officers from different parts of the country attempted to climb the Mount Everest from the southern route from the Nepal side, but failed to make it to the summit due to the earthquake. “My dreams were shattered in 2015 and I was not going to give up. I was, in fact, hesitant to ask for a long leave from my higher officials, but I am happy that the Karnataka Forest Department gave me a second chance to fulfill my dreams," he said.

What started as a hobby in college days has now made him reach the Earth's highest peak. Mr Prabhakaran, who is a trained mountaineer from the Himalayan Mountaineering Training Institute in Darjeeling, made his second attempt with a six-member team. The team comprised an IPS officer from Maharashtra, a woman additional superintendent of police from Telangana, a tribal from Andhra Pradesh, and two others. But out of the six, five made it to the summit. The team left India on April 8. “This time, I decided to scale the peak from the North route, which is considered the toughest and most dangerous route. The route from the south is considered the safest. Unfortunately, this year, there was a natural disaster and there was a clear weather along the North route which was apt for climbing," he said.

The team headed by road from Lhasa in Tibet to the Mount Everest base Camp situated at a height of 5,300 metres. The team started climbing towards the next base camp at a height of 5,900 metres and then to the advanced base camp which is the final base camp at a height of 6,400 metres.

"Here we follow the golden rule of mountaineering – climb high and sleep low. That is to acclimatise our lungs for low oxygen levels. It's from this point our actual mountaineering starts. We have to use the leg gear and climb," he said. After climbing for a week, the team reached a height of 7,100 meters which is called the North Pole. “We stayed at the point all night without oxygen. It was a test for endurance for all of us. Climbing from here was very tough as we had to carry our equipment and oxygen cylinders weighing 6 kg apart from other luggage, till we reach Camp 3, which is at 8,300 metres," he said.

“We headed for the summit and scaled it on May 20. I spent about 15 minutes on the top and the view was breathtaking. I was happy and excited that I fulfilled my dream. I am an asthmatic and it was a challenge and test of endurance for me," he said.

Mr Prabhakaran, who is the 2011 batch IFS officer, hails from Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. The Karnataka State Forest Department felicitated the young achiever.

8 crore seedlings to be planted!
Announcing Mr S. Prabhakaran as the brand ambassador for various forestry and wildlife programmes, Mr A.K. Singh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, said that eight crore saplings will be planted across the state by the end of July this year. “It is a tough task, as tough as climbing the Mount Everest. But we will certainly achieve it. We need people like Mr Prabhakaran for motivation," he said.