Four tribal students from Chandrapur scale Mt Everest

Four tribal youths from the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra have scaled Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world.

The four students are Umakant Madavi (19), Parmesh Aale (19) and Manisha Dhurve (18) from Devada Ashram School and Kavidas Katmode (18) from Jivati Ashram School.

"It's a matter of pride for us...it's a historic achievement," said Finance and Planning Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, who is Chandrapur's guardian minister.

They undertook the mission as part of Mission Shaurya which is an initiative of the Tribal Welfare department and Chandrapur collectorate.

While Kavidas and Umakant reached the summit at 3.25 am, Parmesh and Manisha reached at 4.25 am and 4.35 am, respectively, on Wednesday.

Two others Vikas Soyam and Indu Kannake will make an attempt for the summit on Thursday and Friday respectively

The team, with members aged between 18 and 21, hailing from the government ashram schools in Borda, Devada and Jeevti had left on April 11 from Mumbai to Kathmandu for the 60-day expedition.

The team also included manager-cum-trainer Vimla Negi-Devaskar, a high-altitude expert doctor, support staff and 15 sherpas.

The process began in July 2017, with a school-level screening of 60 students from which 45 were selected for foundation training that was held in Wardha.

They were tested for ability and endurance and further short-listed to 25, who were sent to basic mountaineering course at Bhongir in Hyderabad.

Of this group, 18 were sent for basic mountaineering course in Darjeeling.

From here, 13 were selected and sent to advanced winter mountaineering training at Leh, Ladakh.

The training included acclimatisation, physical training and treks. During this phase, they attained a height of 17,000 feet. Finally, 10 were selected.