Five climbers from an 11-member Odisha expedition scale the 20,100-ft Himalayan peak; team unfurls an 80-metre national flag
BHUBANESWAR (India CSR®):: Five women mountaineers from Odisha reached the summit of Mount Yunam in Himachal Pradesh on Independence Day, carrying the national flag to an altitude of 20,100 feet in a landmark expedition for the state’s adventure-sports community. The climbers unfurled an 80-metre-long Tricolour at the summit on August 15, turning a demanding Himalayan ascent into a striking expression of patriotism and women’s achievement.
Himalayan Challenge Conquered
The 11-member women’s team departed Odisha on August 7 under the leadership of Anita Swain. Everest climber Ganesh Jena guided the expedition. Mount Yunam posed severe tests of endurance, with the group negotiating difficult terrain, high-altitude conditions and changing mountain weather. Five members completed the final summit push. Three others came close to the peak but had to stop due to illness. The expedition was completed without any accident.
Courage Beyond Altitude
Anita Swain said the achievement represented more than a successful climb. “Mount Yunam is not just a mountain peak for us; it represents the courage, confidence and determination of the women of Odisha,” she said. She described hoisting the Tricolour on Independence Day as a moment of immense pride for the team. The safe completion of the expedition, she added, gave the achievement added significance.
Training Built Strength
Ganesh Jena, an Everest climber and editor of AASHA, credited the result to sustained preparation and disciplined execution. He said the team’s performance reflected months of fitness work, endurance training, altitude acclimatisation and adherence to mountaineering practices. Reaching the summit in a high-altitude Himalayan environment requires not only physical ability but also careful judgement, teamwork and the capacity to respond to difficult conditions, he noted.
Pride Reaches Himalayas
Shubhashish Tripathy, Managing Director of Sanket Communications, said the expedition had become an inspiring example of women’s empowerment, courage and determination. “By hoisting the Tricolour atop Mount Yunam, these women have taken the pride of Odisha to the heights of the Himalayas,” he said. The climb also placed a wider spotlight on the potential of women athletes and adventure enthusiasts from Odisha.
Inspiration For Youth
Haresh Kumar Mishra, Vice-President of AASHA, said the success could encourage more young people, particularly women, to explore mountaineering and adventure sports. He said the Mount Yunam expedition marked an important moment for Odisha’s emerging adventure-sports landscape, demonstrating that ambition, preparation and collective effort can take athletes beyond familiar boundaries. The ascent by five Odisha women, the display of the 80-metre Tricolour and the team’s accident-free return together stand as a memorable Independence Day milestone.
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