PTI
New Delhi, Apr 10: A ten-member team of the Indian navy has created a record of sorts by reaching the North pole and hoisting the tricolour there.
Three of the ten members of the team have also joined the elite club of adventurers to have successfully reached both the North pole and the South pole as well as the Mount Everest.
"We are very happy and proud for having hoisted our National flag at the very top of the world," said Commander Satyabrata Dam, leader of the ski expedition team, from the North pole in a teleconference with the media here.
In the last leg of Navy's "three poles" challenge which comprises the South pole, the North pole and the Mount Everest, the expedition team reached the North pole at 2016 hours IST on Wednesday.
The Indian Navy has already completed successful expeditions to the Mount Everest and the South pole, respectively in 2004 and 2006.
"we have reached here after a physically demanding and painstaking journey. Now it seems like we are on some different planet where the sun remains with us all the time and the temperature hovers around minus 40 degree celsius," said Commander Dam.
Earlier, Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta greeted the expedition team for its daring mission and hoped the force will carry on it adventurous spirit in the future.
Speaking at a conference, Rear Admiral Shekhar Sinha and Principal Director adventurous activity, S C Joshi termed the expedition as a historic endeavour which has made the nation proud.