Six youngsters from Andhra created history by scaling the Mount Everest on Saturday morning, and becoming the first non-Chinese team to open the route in a season.
The six people were sponsored by the Andhra Pradesh government, and they hoisted the national flag at the peak once they reached.
What was even more heartening was that all the mountaineers who scaled the world's highest peak, were from underprivileged families.
The Times of India reported that G Suresh Babu, V Krishna Rao and K Durga Rao were senior Intermediate students in AP Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society while S Nagaraju, K Satya Rao and T Bharath were from the AP Youth Services department.
According to Transcend Adventures, which organised the expedition, Nagaraju was the first to reach the summit, at 8.20am. Nagaraju’s parents are daily wage labourers, and he is pursuing his BSc Computer Science in the state.
Satya Rao, who reached second, comes from a fisherman’s family, and is also pursuing a bachelor's degree in Arts. The duo were followed by Krishna, Bharat, Durga Rao, and Suresh Babu.
According to reports, more than 300 youngsters from across the state had applied for the mission, out of which only six made the final cut.
The students were coached by B Shekar Babu, an ace mountaineer who had scaled Mt Everest himself, and who is also a recipient of the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award.
Speaking to TNIE, Special Commissioner of Youth Services Department G Komal Kishore said, "The team has lived our expectations and they have achieved the greatest feat by climbing Everest. I am sure that the state government will support their future endeavours with financial assistance.”
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also congratulated the team on scaling the peak.
According to reports, around 200 climbers along with their support staff will attempt to scale Mt Everest from the northern side over the next few days.
(All Images: Facebook/Transcend Adventures)