Embarked on a mission to promote an anti-drug campaign, five Gujaratis among others have summited Mount Yunam, a peak located between Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh, towering at a height of 6,111 metres (approximately 20,050 feet).

The ascent of Mount Yunam presents a challenging landscape, where sudden drops in temperature and difficult terrain often challenge climbers. Despite the altitude causing a decrease in oxygen levels and temperatures dropping below -20°C at night, the five Gujaratis successfully hoisted the Indian tricolour flag atop the summit.

During the ascent, the team reportedly encountered various difficulties such as avalanches, crevasses, and severe cold. Due to these challenges, eight of the trekkers had to retreat midway.

Dr Sohail Musla, a medical professional at Vadodara’s Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad Hospital was also among them.

Dr Musla revealed that their team comprised thirteen members, including five Gujaratis and others from Rajasthan and West Bengal. Moreover, three instructors from Manali joined them. “The objective of scaling the peak was to promote the anti-drug campaign, initiated by an NGO in Ahmedabad. This campaign encourages both trekking and mountain climbing,” said Dr Musla.

Dr Musla was accompanied by Surat’s Jaypalsingh Bhati, Palanpur’s RJ Dhruvin Dhanani, Gaurang Purohit, and Dhruvil Dabhi. Others included  Meet Sidhpura, Prabir Golder, Mihir Chauhan, Paresh Prajapati, Moksha Shah, Dr Atul Ramani, Parth Bhandarkar, and Krish Parchani.

He mentioned that climbing involves risks such as stones falling, avalanches, and altitude sickness. One team member experienced a severe knee injury due to a falling stone and had to be evacuated to Gujarat for treatment. Three others suffered from altitude sickness and were admitted to hospitals in Manali.

“In the end, only the five Gujaratis survived, and on the morning of June 11, after seven arduous days of climbing, we successfully hoisted the tricolour flag on Mount Yunam’s summit,” he added.

Before embarking on the climb, the 13 team members underwent two months of training, including daily 5 km runs, practice climbs with equipment, yoga, and breathing exercises. They were then selected to climb the summit. 

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