A Malayali has achieved a rare feat of conquering Mt Everest.
Shaikh Hassan Khan, of Puzhikaad Pandalam who works as senior grade assistant at the finance department in state secretariat, scaled the highest peak in the world.
Hassan who hoisted the Indian flag atop the Everest on Sunday morning at 10.30 is now on his way back from the summit.
Shaikh Hassan told us that after returning to the base camp on Tuesday evening he had developed a severe cough following which he reached Lukla in a helicopter. He will arrive in Kathmandu by plane on Thursday and after spending two days in Delhi, he plans to return to his hometown.
Shaikh Hassan's Everest expedition, representing Kerala, was to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India's independence. The tricolour hoisted by Hassan and his fellow climbers is the biggest flag atop Mt Everest so far.
The flag having a length of 30 feet and 20 feet breadth was hoisted at a height of 26,000 feet at South Col. The objective was to gain entry into the Guinness book of world records for hoisting the biggest national flag atop Mt Everest. However, the Guinness Book of world records authorities sought a huge amount following which they abandoned the idea, Hassan disclosed.
A photo exhibition was held at the base camp at a height of 17,598 feet ahead of the expedition. The paintings and pictures drawn by Malayalee children on the subject '75th year of India’s independence and war heroes of India', were displayed at the exhibition. These were selected from among the art work sent by the children.
Though the paintings and pictures were taken all the way up to the summit, they could not display because of high velocity winds, Shaikh Hassan said.