Mortal remains of Odisha mountaineer consigned to flames

Puri: The mortal remains of Odia summiteer of Mount Everest, Kalpana Dash were consigned to flames at Swargadwar here in Odisha’s pilgrim city on Sunday.

The body was brought to the crematorium for last rites after taking it to her native place at Kanchan Bazaar in Dhenkanal district soon after it reached Bhubaneswar in the morning.

The state’s sports minister and sports officials were among hundreds who paid their last respects to the body of Odia mountaineer Kalpana at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

The government bore the entire expenses that were incurred for bringing Kalpana’s body back to the state.

“It is a great loss for Odisha and we hope that the State produces another Kalpana to climb the peak. The State government will take necessary steps to preserve her memories,” said Women & Child Welfare Minister Tukuni Sahu.

“Kalpana Dash was an ace mountaineer who brought fame to the state. She was an achiever who led by example and even in her death she will continue to inspire young aspirants to scale great peaks,” said Sports Minister Tusharkanti Behera.

He also thanked the Indian embassy in Kathmandu, the search and rescue team of Sherpas and other officials who braced severe weather conditions and difficult terrain to repatriate the body and bring it back to her family members.

Notably, Kalpana, the first Odia to climb Mount Everest, died on May 23 while descending from the summit after successfully scaling Mount Everest for the second time. Her body was recovered from Everest balcony on May 28 and was transported to Kathmandu on May 31.