HAWS teams scale Machoi peak

Srinagar, September 26
High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) has successfully scaled the Machoi peak (18,000 ft) in three waves on September 16, 17 and 18.

The HAWS puts its students attending the mountain warfare advance course through the expedition to give them the first-hand experience of the planning and technical aspects of the course. These techniques may come handy in the face of any eventuality along our mountainous borders. The successful completion of the expedition also validated the rock craft and ice draft training imparted to the students, a defence spokesman said.

The first summit team comprising two officers, a JCO and 12 others ranks of training staff and six officers and 32 others rank students started under the leadership of Major Harsh Jha on September 16 from the road head at Gumri and established the Base camp at a height of 14,500 ft. The first team reached the summit at 10.54 am and by 11.20 am all teams reached the summit.

The complete wave reached the Base camp by 2 pm, after the lunch break of an hour this wave started their final journey to the road head at Gumri.

Simultaneously, the second wave had started at 6.30 am on September 19 and was safely at the Base Camp 10.30 am to welcome the first wave returning from successful venture.

The second wave comprising three JCOs and 10 others ranks of training staff and six officers and 30 others ranks students started under the leadership of Subedar Gokul Pradhan on September 17 from the Base Camp and reached the summit at 8.08 am and finally to the Base Camp at 12.10 pm with this wave returning .

The third wave comprising two officers, two JCOs and nine other ranks of training staffs and four officers, a JCO and 31 other rank students started under the leadership of Capt Mirza Zaihid Baig on September 18 from the Base Camp and reached the summit on September 18.

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