West Bengal to carry out a rescue operation for the missing mountaineers

Kolkata: West Bengal government is sending a team of officials to Nepal for coordinating the rescue operations of two mountaineers from the state, who had reportedly gone missing at Mount Everest. Trinamool Congress legislator and outgoing Sports, Housing and Youth Affairs minister Arup Biswas said a three-member team led by S A Baba, Principal Secretary of youth affairs department, will leave from Kolkata on 24 May. [caption id=“attachment_1542101” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] He said that the body of another mountaineer Subash Paul, who had reached 8,849-metre summit on Saturday but collapsed while descending the Hillary Step ice wall, will be brought to the state and the government will extend all required support to his family. Biswas said the team will try to co-ordinate the rescue operations of both Paresh Nath and Goutam Ghosh, who have gone missing. The government has also started a control room in the state secretariat where the families of those missing can call, seeking information. West Bengal Governor KN Tripathi condoled the death of Pal saying, “He conquered highest peak of the world and died a hero’s death while returning. He will remain an inspiration to the adventure loving youth of West Bengal”. He also conveyed his heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family and innumerable admirers.