The team, led by Commander Satyabrata Dam, hoisted the national flag on the “top of the world” late on Wednesday night after a tough seven day ski traverse through “high winds, freezing temperatures, polar bears, water leads, pressure ridges and variable sea drift.”

“We have reached after a physically demanding and painstaking journey. Now it seems like some different planet where the Sun is with us all the time and the temperature hovers around minus 40 degree Celsius,” said Commander Dam, speaking from the North Pole in a teleconference with mediapersons in the capital on Thursday afternoon. “We are very happy and proud after hoisting our national flag at the very top of the world,” an elated Commander Dam said.

The Indian Navy expedition has become the first ever of any Indian Team to have successfully ski traversed both the geographic poles. Other than this historic feat, three of the ten members would have also joined the elite club to successfully complete the “Three Poles” Challenge.

“The Three Poles Challenge includes successful traverse to the North Pole, South Pole and ascent of Mt Everest, considered to be the third pole. By far, this is regarded as amongst the most daring feats in the genre of adventure sports,” the Indian Navy spokesperson said. The team earlier created many records, including a successful ascent of Mt Everest in 2004 and ski traverse to the geographic South Pole in 2006.

For the North Pole expedition, the team left India on March 24 and started the first leg of their journey from Oslo, Norway. From Oslo the team was flown to Longyearbyen on a special aircraft and then dropped to the Arctic Ice Cap for the ski journey to the pole.

The History-makers

The team was led by Commander Satyabrata Dam. Lt Cdr Avinash Khajuria, Surg Lt Cdr Ajay Sharma, MCERA Rajkumar, Petty Officer Medical Assitants Rakesh Kumar and Vikas Kumar, Brijendra Singh, SEA I PT II, LME Ramendra Pandey, Manoj Vats and Sonam Tamchos are part of the 10-member expedition team. Commander Dam has also been the leader of the two successful expeditions to Mount Everest and South Pole.

Records attempted

(subject to confirmation by authorities)

•First Indian team to Ski Traverse to the Geographic North Pole

•First Indians to complete the Three Pole Challenge

•First Indian Everest Summiteers to the South and North Pole

•First organization in the world to complete the Three Poles