Koppal deputy conservator becomes first Indian forest officer to scale Mt Everest

BENGALURU: Ten days after he scaled Mt Everest, Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer S Prabhakaran's eyes still sparkle with memories of the night before he and four other IAS/IPS officers reached the top of the world's highest peak, 8,848 metres above sea level.
"The night before the summit, on Buddha Poornima, has been the most beautiful night of my life.What a majestic view of Everest it was! Luckily, it was pleasant night as well. The next morning (May 20), I made it to the peak followed by other team members. It was a dream come true," recalls Prabhakaran, 29, who has made the state and the country proud by becoming the first Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer to scale Mt Everest.
Speaking to TOI at a felicitation ceremony organized by the state forest department on Monday, he said the summit was important for him he had return from the Himalayan expedition last year due to bad weather and natural calamities.
In 2015, Prabhakaran was part of a five-member team of officers that went on a Himalayan expedition flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The team was set to scale the peak from the south side, but we were hit by an avalanche. We had to stop the trek at around 5,000 mts. I returned with a heavy heart," said Prabhakaran, deputy conservator of forests in Koppal division.
"With the encouragement of the forest department and a Hyderabad-based sponsor, I was able to join a six-member team that left on April 8 this year," he said.
This year, Prabhakaran and team chose to trek from the north side though it is tougher. "We had to fight odds. At one point, I got stuck in an ice splash and my entire body was buried in ice for more than two minutes. It was like seeing death closely. We had to walk on a ridge where a small mistake can take you below 2,000 metres and death. Our plan was to reach the summit on May 15, but we had to wait for good weather," he added.
The sixth member of the team was a single amputee, who couldn't make it to the summit due to health issues, he said.
"I want to peak Mt Everest from South side and try and climb other peaks above 8,000 mtrs. To start with I want to try Cho Oyu, which is the sixth highest mountain in the world at 8,201 metres," he added.
Fighting odds
The fact that he was born asthmatic has not stopped Prabhakaran to achieve his dream. "Doctor told my parents that asthma is not curable but can be kept under control by ensuring good physical activities. Physical activities, including Kabaddi, karate, football, cricket kept me going strong. Initially, I was not keen on trekking but I got to head the hiking club in college which led me towards mountaineering. I dedicate my success to all the frontline staff of the forest department, who work hard day and night to save forests," says Prabhakaran.
Brand ambassador of forest dept
AK Singh, PCCF (Head of forest force), Karnataka Forest Department, said Prabhakaran would be the brand ambassador for the department for many activities, including the large-scale sapling drive they will be taking up soon. "He is now our hero and will be of inspiration to many youngsters. We as foresters will be encouraging any official who will be taking up such efforts in future as well," he said.