The Indian Navy team led by Commander Satyabrata Dam successfully conquered the North Pole on Wednesday night of April 09 and hoisted the Indian flag on the frozen ocean. After this historic success Indian navy becomes the first organization in the world to have achieved the three poles, including the South Pole and Mount Everest.
“It’s a great feeling to watch the Indian national flag and the Indian Navy flag flattering on the frozen ocean,” said the 42-year old Commander Satyabrata Dam.
The team of ten members led by the Commander Satyabrata Dam traversed for seven day through the severe weather to reach the North Pole on Wednesday. Indian Navy became the first Indian team to Ski Traverse to the Geographic North Pole.
The team started the journey on March 24 from the capital city and commenced the first leg of their journey at Oslo, capital of Norway followed by Longyearbyen (northern most airport in the world) and then onwards to the Arctic Ice Cap on April 2.
“At present, it is minus 35 Degree Celsius temperature here. All around us is white snow and ice. On my east, five yellow tents are there. The group box is on the west side. However, under the blue sky, the sun is low at 20 degree up and a beam of light orange color is scattered. And we are sitting on 1.5-meters thick ice in tent. It seems, as if, we have reached to another planet. And India is not behind anyone,” said Dam today.
After achieving this unique endeavor, three of the ten members became the part of elite club for successfully completing the “Three Poles” Challenge.
The Three Poles Challenge includes the journey through the most difficult terrain of the world that is North Pole, South Pole and Mount Everest among which North Pole journey is said to be the most difficult one as one has to face the challenges of high winds, freezing temperatures, polar bears, water leads, pressure ridges and variable sea drift.
“We have reached after a physically demanding and painstaking journey. Now it seems like some different planet where the sun is with us all the time and temperature hovers around 40 degree Celsius.” Commander said pointing the difficulties situations of North Pole journey.
The team members included Lt Cdr Avinash Khajuria, Lt Cdr Ajay Sharma, MCERA Rajkumar, Petty Officer Medical Assistant Rakesh Kumar, Vikas Kumar, Brijendra Singh, LME Ramendra Pandey, Manoj Vats and Sonam Tamchos, including Commander Satyabrata Dam.
It was on May18, 2004 when the Indian Navy achieved the endeavor to Mt. Everest and traversed to geographic South Pole on December 28, 2006.
Tags: India, Navy, North Pole
