Thursday, June 2 2005 21:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Indian Army's women mountaineers created history today (June 2, 2005) by becoming the first women's expedition to scale the Mt Everest.

Captain Shipra Mazumdar, Captain Ashwini Pawar, Cadet Tshering Ladol and Trainee Dechin Lhamo scaled the 8848-metre high peak between 06:15 hrs (IST) and 09:39 hrs (IST) hours this morning.

The peak was also summitted by five members of the support team, Major S S Shekhawat, Subedar Surjeet Singh, Naib Subedar Jagat Singh, Havildar Topgey Bhutia and Commando Kaman Singh.

The Indian Army's women mountaineering team scaled the world's tallest peak from the Chinese side through the North Col Route, the Army said in a release.

With this unprecedented feat, the Indian Army has scaled four eight thou sanders in the last four years and Mt Everest has been climbed thrice by the Army in the last five years.

The Army Women Everest Expedition was flagged off by Chief of Army Staff Gen J J Singh on March 18 this year.

The Army Chief, who is a mountaineer himself, has congratulated the team on its feat.