Chhanda Gayen (9 July 1979 – 20 May 2014)[1] was an Indian climber, martial artist, explorer, and teacher of self-defense. She is best known for being the first, and fastest, Indian to climb two eight-thousanders, Mount Everest and Lhotse, in one go, which she did on 18 May 2013.[2][3][4] She completed the traverse from the summit of Mount Everest to the summit of Lhotse in 22 hours.

Chhanda Gayen
Gayen at Mt. Everest summit, 2013
Born(1979-07-09)9 July 1979
Kona, West Bengal, India
Died20 May 2014(2014-05-20) (aged 34)
NationalityIndian
OccupationMountaineer
Known forSummiting Mount Everest
Chhanda Gayen in 2013

She was awarded "Sera Avishkar" in Sera Bengali 2013 from ABP Ananda.[5][6][7][8][9]

2014 avalanche

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Negotiating crevasse near Khumbu Icefalls

On 20 May 2014, she went missing along with two sherpas in an avalanche while descending from the summit of Kanchenjunga in Nepal.[10] All three of them were later declared to have died in the avalanche.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Parashar, Uptal (22 May 2014). "Woman climber, 2 Sherpas killed on Kanchenjunga". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  2. ^ Bhabani, Soudhriti (22 May 2014). "Woman Everest climber, Chhanda Gayen, goes missing while scaling Kanchenjunga". India Today. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  3. ^ "First civilian woman from Bengal to climb Everest missing on Kanchenjunga West". Firstpost. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Mother clings to hope Chhanda will return". The Times of India. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  5. ^ Ghosh, Amrita (2012). "Fulfilling her father's dream". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  6. ^ Sikdar, Bitan (2013). "Howrah woman on top of the world". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Mount Everest conquered by West Bengal's Chanda Gayen". The Indian Express. 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  8. ^ Manik Banerjee. Woman mountaineer, Chanda Gayen from West Bengal climbs Mt. Everest. The Hyderabad Deccan 18 May 2013 "Woman mountaineer, Chanda Gayen from West Bengal climbs Mt. Everest". Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
  9. ^ Mount Everest conquered by West Bengal's Chanda Gayen. Press Trust of India : Kolkata, Sat 18 May 2013 [1]
  10. ^ "Mamata Banerjee heads to Nepal to rescue missing Indian Mountaineer Chhanda Gayen". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 24 May 2014.