Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will be sending a team to Kathmandu for bringing back the body of mountaineer Kalpana Dash, who died on May 23 while descending Mount Everest.
According to sources, the team will include Kalpana’s brother Pradip Dash and another family member and mountaineer Ganesh Jena.
The state government will bear all the expenses to bring back her body.
“The Odisha government has prepared for our journey. Her bother Pradip, Ranjit, an associate of Kalpana, will travel from Odisha. Indian Embassy will also help us. We will leave for New Delhi on Monday morning. Then travel to Kathmandu from there. We will reach Kathmandu on Monday afternoon,” said Ganesh.
Her body should be brought back by May 31, as the terrain could become unreachable by June, he added.
The spot is reportedly at an altitude of approximately 8,600m in the balcony area of Mount Everest.
Kalpana Dash, the first person from the state to climb Mount Everest, breathed her last after successfully scaling Mt Everest for the second time.
The 53-year-old was leading a three-member team on this expedition.
Nepal apart, she has scaled several peaks in Europe, South America and North America.
Vishal K Dev, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Sports and Youth Services, had said, “Kalpana Dash had repeatedly brought accolades to the state and in her loss the state has lost one of its finest. We are committed to bringing her mortal remains back to her state. We have written to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and are in touch with them regarding search and rescue operations.”
