Nilkantha. A 37-member multinational army expedition was led by Indian Lieutenant Colonel H.S. Chauhan. There were 25 Indians and three each from Britain, United States, France and Italy. The peak was climbed by a new route, the northeast ridge gained from the east face. Despite heavy snowfalls and avalanches, on May 31 the summit of Nilkantha (6596 meters, 21,640 feet) was reached by seven Indians, two Britons and three Italians. They were followed on June 2 by 24 climbers in two batches: 18 Indians, three Frenchmen, two Americans and a Briton. The peak had been first climbed by the west ridge on June 3, 1974 by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

Kamal K. Guha, Editor, Himavanta, India