Women's team complete maiden Thar Desert Expedition

Jamshedpur, Feb 21 (UNI) The maiden ''Thar Desert All-Women Expedition'', led by Everester Bachendri Pal, has successfully completed this week covering some 2,000 km, a report reaching here said today.

The expedition criss-cross desert trails of Gujarat and Rajasthan reached Wagah border in Punjab in a record one month's time on February 18. The expedition, organised by Tata Steel and supported by BSF, had added another feather to Ms Pal's cap.

The 12-member all-women team began the journey from Bhuj on January 18 and set a target of reaching Wagah Border by February 18 via Punjab, Tata sources said here today.

The adventure is not only the first Indian women's Thar Desert Expedition but also the maiden expedition covering such a long distance over the Great Indian Desert by any male or female team.

Sharing her experiences Ms Pal, the first Indian woman to scale Mount Everest and Chief Adventure Programme of Tata Steel, said ''It's a journey into the unknown for us, which began with learning to ride camels. It was as if we were sitting on a moving mountain.

Falling off, blisters in the hands from holdig the saddle, blisters on the thigh, back pain, body aches, but yet we are mentally prepared to face the arduous challeges and discomforts.

All are being taken on our stride.'' ''The BSF people were surprised to hear about the 60 km a day ride on camels, which even they have found difficult. The shifting sand dune has been an ordeal for us especially on the descent,'' she said.

''On crossing the Gujarat Border, we entered Munabao in Rajasthan, where the international border is situated. We crossed over the border and met the Pakistani Rangers,'' she recollected.

Apart from Ms Pal, other members of the team were Premlata Agarwal, Priyansa Agarwal, Anita Soren, Binita Soren, Sushila Mardi and L Arnapurna(from Jharkhand), Vasumati Srinivasan and Kokila Sudha(from Karnataka), Sushma Bissa(Rajasthan), Chaula Jagirdar (Gujrat) and Arpita Chatterjee (West Bengal).

UNI