First Chennaiite to scale Mt Everest

CHENNAI: City youth Sandhosh Kumar (27) on Sunday morning became the first Chennaiite to scale Mount Everest. The investment banker is also the second Tamilian to reach the world's tallest peak. Upon scaling the peak he displayed a banner "Thamizh Vazhgha" as a mark of his achievement.

"He was the only Indian in the 'Mission Mount Everest' team of six," said Indira Vetrivel, a social activist and family friend of Sandhosh. "He commenced his journey eight weeks ago from Chennai on March 29 and climbed the tallest peak through South Col," she added. The expedition was intended to challenge our society and break the silence against child abuse. Sandhosh said child abuse is a rampant problem, affecting over 53 per cent of children in India, and it requires a great deal of attention. Unfortunately discussing it is still taboo in India, he added.

His past conquests include Cho Oyu (8,201 m), Mont Blanc in Western Europe (4,810 m) and Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa (5,895 m).