They have finally achieved the mission they set out for by reaching atop Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa on Friday. The 14 students of schools run by the Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (APSWREIS), scaled a height of 5,895 meters (19,340 ft) to reach atop the mountain and hoisted a 1350 sq ft National Flag, thus creating a record.
“The earlier record on Kilimanjaro was hoisting of 600 sq ft. Indian national flag. First time, a 14-member team has collectively climbed this mountain peak and nine of them are girls,” said the Society Secretary Col. Ramulu.
The group, Col. Ramulu said, took the Machame route. “This trail is considered difficult, steep and challenging, particularly due to its shorter itinerary,” he said.
This route, it is said, is better suited for more adventurous folks or those with some hiking experience.
The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the south.
‘Mission Impossible’
The expedition is part of the APSWREIS ‘Mission Impossible’ programme designed to promote love of adventure and spirit of camaraderie among the students. “With repeated success in mountain expeditions, we hope to see more students coming forward to take up the activity that will expose them to new terrains not just physically but also on the mental plane,” said Col. Ramulu.
The team that successfully conquered the mountain are nine girls— S. Sirisha, K. Ramyasree, B. Inidira Bai, Y. Kavitha, K. Mahalakshmi, G. Hemalatha, B. Sunitha, D. Suvarnadeepika and M.C. Mahalakshmi and five boys — D. Lakshman, B. Ramesh, V. Srikanth, D. Kiran Kumar and B. Suresh.
Another team of 20 students is being trained for a Mount Everest expedition in May this year.
