Rathore flags off BSF s 2nd expedition to Mt. Everest

New Delhi March 20 (IANS) Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Tuesday flagged off the Border Security Force (BSF) mountaineering team s second expedition to Mount Everest.

The 25-member contingent will aim to scale the 8848-metre peak carrying the "clean and save glaciers campaign".

The contingent will be led by Padma Shri Loveraj Singh Dharmashaktu an assistant commandant with the BSF and the first Indian to successfully scale the Everest six times since 1998.

The participants of the expedition include three officers three subordinate officers 17 other ranks and two medical staff.

Addressing the gathering after flagging off the expedition Rathore said: "The forces should prepare themselves for war during peace time but peace time preparation cannot be equal to actual war conditions. BSF is accepting new challenges like a daredevil soldier."

"Scaling Everest is a big challenge in itself " Rathore added while conveying his best wishes to the team.

On the occasion BSF DG K.K. Sharma recalled the achievements made by the mountaineering team of the BSF and conveyed best wishes to them.

--IANS
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