27 May 2017 will be ingrained as a red letter day in the annals of Indian  corporate history. Through a unique HR initiative, E&P major ONGC became one of the first corporates in the world and the first PSU to have its Team scale  the highest point on this planet – the Mount Everest.

Six  employees of the energy Maharatna ONGC viz. Yogendar Garbiyal, N Jagoi, Rahul  Jarngal (scaled the peak on 27 May 2017), Santosh Kumar, Nirmal Kumar and Prabhat  Gaurav (on 28 May 2017) achieved this unique feat under the astute guidance of  Padma Shri Loveraj Singh Dharamshaktu, Assistant Commandant (BSF) representing  the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF).

(L-R) Yogender Garbiyal, N Jagoi and Rahul Jarngal

(L-R) Santosh Kumar, Nirmal Kumar, Prabhat Gaurav

The amateur employees of ONGC Could Do It; thanks to the organizational encouragement and support at ONGC

With  this ‘Can Do’ spirit, energy major ONGC has proved to the world that if there  is passion, nothing is unsurmountable, be it the depths of the Earth for national energy security or the top of the world for national glory. ONGC  Director (HR) Mr. D D Misra, who is the main driving force behind this expedition, says, “This expedition is an expression of the fact that adventure  is in the DNA of ONGC.”  ONGC has drilled  the deepest well , now it has reached the highest point on earth.

The expedition was flagged-off by the Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent  Charge), Petroleum & Natural Gas Mr.Dharmendra Pradhan on 27 March 2017.  The team left for Nepal in the first week of April and have since then summited  various peaks, including Lobuche East (6119 mtrs) and climbed till Everest Camp  3 as part of the acclimatization exercise. After this feat, the Minister tweeted  his congratulatory message to Team ONGC, “Heartiest congratulations to ONGC the three officers, Yogender Garbiyal, N Jagoi and Rahul Jarngal who  scaled the Everest; we are proud of you”.

The  idea of Mission Everest was borne out of the team’s successful completion of  the Everest Base Camp Trek in October 2015. From then on, there has been no  looking back as ONGC CMD exhorted all team members on their return to target  Mount Everest.

The  Everest Expedition Team was selected from a group of a hundred and fifty ONGC  employees after a rigorous and stage-wise selection process. The team undertook  intensive training designed by IMF for over 16 months, involving a 19-km  endurance trek, 14 days’ adventure course, 28 days basic mountaineering course,  and 30 days advanced mountaineering course. The training not only exposed them  to the pervasive harsh conditions encountered during high altitude expeditions,  but also developed the leadership traits that will run the future of ONGC.  Finally, a team of eleven ONGC employees, all amateur mountaineers, were chosen  for the expedition from the Nepal side of the Mount Everest.

(L-R) Expedition leader S.K. Sangwan, Dr. Ritu Sharma, Dr. Nitin Chawla, Surender Tomar, Monti Rajkhowa

ONGC  CMD Mr Dinesh K Sarraf said “This is a momentous occasion for ONGC where  ONGCians accomplished the Mission Everest. This shows the conviction, courage,  team-work and commitment of our colleagues which has helped ONGC to become one  of the largest global E&P companies. I’m sure this winning streak will  continue.”

ONGC’s  Director (HR) DD Misra hailed the team members and said “Scaling Mount Everest  is a lifetime achievement. I’m extremely proud of our own boys and girls who  have accomplished this mission. I’m thankful to IMF, under the mentoring of  Col. H S Chauhan for its unstinted support and guidance to these amateur  mountaineers”.