Bhubaneswar: Two students – Kairav Khimji and Ridhi Patnaik – of SAI International School here scaled the Jaundhar glacier (14107ft) in Garhwal during a six-day mountaineering expedition organised by “Trek-the-Mountains” group beginning April 30, 2018.
The ten-year-olds reached Jaundhar glacier May 3 through the snow-clad Har-ki-Dun valley (11768ft) from Taluka (7953ft) in the Govind Pashu National Park of Uttarakhand.
“Trek-the-Mountains” group organiser Meghraj Panwar lauded the two youngsters for their adventure and determination in taking up the strenuous trekking. “We told the children that people get sick at high altitude. We have to train ourselves very hard and it is not easy,” he said.
Kairav, a Class V student, is the son of Sumeet Khimji of Khimji Jewellers. Ridhi Patnaik, also a student of Class V, is the daughter of Police DIG Diptesh Patnaik.
“The trek was hard. We faced hailstorms and snowfall which made our expedition difficult. Though our legs were paining we were determined to complete the expedition. We saw the spectacular snow-peaked Swargarohini range, the Black Peak and the Bandarpoonch,” said Ridhi Patnaik narrating her experience.
“We had to trek ten to 12 kilometres of mountainous terrain per day. We covered 72-km in six days and stayed in tents facing harsh weather. We confronted hailstorms and snowfall but we kept going ahead,” claimed Kairav Khimji recalling their experience.
The two SAI International School children left for the expedition at the beginning of their summer vacation. They had to undergo rigorous medical tests at Mussoorie before the expedition.
SAI International group chairman Bijoy K Sahoo congratulated Kairav and Ridhi for their adventure.