A team of differently-abled mountaineers from the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute on Friday began an expedition from Kanchenjunga National Park to Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in the African continent, a statement issued by the institute said. The expedition will be completed on August 20. To commemorate the 78th Independence Day, a 7,800-square foot national flag, crafted by HMI, will be displayed during the expedition showcasing India’s pride and unity. Led by Group Captain Jai Kishan, Principal of HMI (52), it aims to unfurl the flag atop Kilimanjaro before August 15. As per the HMI, this is the first divyangjan expedition to hoist the largest Indian flag atop Mt Kilimanjaro. The expedition, under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence, was flagged off by Dipti Mohil Chawia, Additional Secretary, MoD in New Delhi on Tuesday and team includes Uday Kumar, a divyangjan with 91 per cent above-knee amputee, Air Warrior and Principal, HMI Gp Capt Jai Kishan, Captain Shruti S. Chanaveeragoudra, Sub Mahendra Kumar Yadav, Pawel Sharma and Sulaxchana Tamang.
