Devachan. Devachan (6187 meters, 20,300 feet) was climbed on June 2 by a 39-member team from the Indian National Cadet Corps. On the way down to Base Camp Satyajit De, Shankar Tahkuti and Mohammad Shafi got separated from the main body in a blizzard. The Western Air Command sent two helicopters before dawn on June 4. They located the latter two on steep snow- covered terrain at 17,500 feet. Braving a strong cross wind, they landed on a billiard-table-sized flat spot and removed the two frost-bitten climbers. The helicopters then located the body of De in a deep inaccessible bowl at 13,125 feet. It required a major mountaineering effort to evacuate his body.

Kamal K. Guha, Himalayan Club