(L-R) Indian mountaineer Basanta Singha Roy and Debasish Biswas on top of Kanchenjunga.  PICS Courtesy/Basanta Singha Roy

When danger strikes
But not all climbs are successful. Roy and his team of mountaineers went missing during a climb to Dhaulagiri I in May 2013. The group lost all communications to the base, and had to be rescued via helicopter. “I was lying in the open air without oxygen one whole day. I was lucky that I survived. I think the years of training really helped me there,” he says. Having suffered severe frost bite in both legs, Roy had to undergo amputation of toes in both legs.

Basanta Singha Roy

But this has not deterred the mountaineer, as he is all set to climb the Nun Kun peak (7,135 metre) in Zanskar Valley, in the last week of this month. “Soon after the accident, I thought of giving up, but I have decided to continue with mountaineering. I will climb as long as my body will permit,” he adds.

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A banker by profession, Roy advises youngsters to start training as early as possible. “As you grow older, your strength decreases, so, it’s best to start early,” he says. So, how has he maintained his stamina at the age of 53, we wonder. Roy replies, “Everyday, I make 20 rounds of a football field; this gives me all the exercise I require. Nutrition is important to maintain stamina. So, I ensure that I eat everyday, on time.”