ellenkushner | Lost Climber

Our good friend Sarah Smith just forwarded this note from a mutual friend of ours:

A cousin of mine who is a mountaineer and in the Indian Army, was leading a team of climbers to climb Nanda Devi, a peak over 26,000 feet high in the Himalayas. They were hit with a blizzard and after that everyone was found except for five people, my cousin among them. He and the other four have been missing now for just over ten days and search teams, including dogs, have not been able to find them. The blizzard dropped 15 feet of snow in the region. My cousin is an amazingly courageous, intelligent and experienced young fellow (in his early thirties) and got the Indian equivalent of the purple heart for valor in battle some years ago. The record for finding someone alive in the Himalayas is 28 days, so we are all still hopeful. Perhaps they found shelter and are OK but cut off from the world due to the thick layer of snow. We do know they have provisions. On the other hand this peak is known to be a killer, and was described by Sherpa Tenzing (who first climbed Mt. Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary) as his most difficult climb.

If you are part of any prayer circle or believe simply in sending good vibes, I'm asking you to remember my cousin and his four companions in your thoughts and prayers. His name is Shyamal (middle a is long) Sinha.

Thanks, with all my heart.

Thanks to my summer Clarion student, Keyan Bowes, for providing this news link.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

otterdance.livejournal.com

Consider it done.

From:

themaskmaker.livejournal.com

I am praying.

From: (Anonymous)

Thinking of the brave mountaineers.

Here's a link to the news article.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/071004/48/6lkem.html

From:

http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/

I have lit a candle for him.
Kari

From: (Anonymous)

I am so glad to find this link. Shyamal was my room-mate from the boarding house in high school; my first and best friend there. I was with him & the family at the proud moment when he was awarded the medal of Valour. In addition to all that is mentioned above - he is the most honest, straight-up, dedicated, patriotic and stubborn guy I have know! A true friend. He is fighting it out; 13 days but he is there - all our classmates are praying for his well being.

From:

ellen-kushner.livejournal.com

I am so glad you found us here. He has so many friends!

From: (Anonymous)

who is this.... i was also with shyamal in school and a hosteler...

From: (Anonymous)

Hi, This is Shalini, Shyamal's sister. Which one of Shyamal's friends are you? What's your name?

From: (Anonymous)

We are all hostel brothers of Shyamal.We know and truly believe that if theres a rockstar who can beat all odds,Its him!We have immense belief & confidence that we shall get the chance & the thrill to kick his backside when he gets back.We all pray to God that there are a few good men out there.Protect them & their near and dear ones.We shall keep the faith!..And Major Shyamal Sinha,you better get your ass back here.We miss you.

Dheeraj,Atul,Kabir,Shubhang,Anil,Bharat,Anand and Vikash

From:

ellen-kushner.livejournal.com

May you be kicking him soon!

From: (Anonymous)

Thank you ellen,join the gang with your share of a kick too,on his backside..I guess he's waiting for a 21-kick salute to be,before he shows up.

From:

ellen-kushner.livejournal.com

Well, then - count me in!

From: (Anonymous)

I have just seen this blog and I would like to thank each one of you for the messages here, especially to the wonderful person who started this blog. Shyamal is my little brother, but more than that he is a friend, a guide and a mentor all in one. We are all waiting for news and all I can say is thank you for your prayers and wishes. I just want by brother back.

Shalini

From:

ellen-kushner.livejournal.com

Thank you for writing here. I hope you & your brother are together again soon.

From: (Anonymous)

Thank you Ellen

From:

kskalsi.livejournal.com

Sure I am praying and I know a lot of his friends are there to pray for him. If I know him right he will fight back and get back against all odds. May god be with him.

From:

shalini-s-a.livejournal.com

Thank you for your wishes kskalsi.
Shalini (Shyamal's sister)

From: (Anonymous)

Praying for the brave climbers.Their spirit will see them through.Noel.

From:

shalini-s-a.livejournal.com

Thank you for your wishes Noel.
Shalini

From:

kskalsi.livejournal.com

Shalini, with each passing moment my beleif gets stronger that Shyamal will get out safe from there just pray on...

From:

shalini-s-a.livejournal.com

Thank you. I totally share your belief. Shyamal and the 4 men with him are all strong and they are all fighters. Together they will come through. The amount of time that has passed is a worry but the families are positive. And the good wishes and prayers of so many people are with the brave men.

Thank you once again everyone.

Shalini

From: (Anonymous)

hey didi, bhaiya will surely get back and soon. As a kid I always believed that bhaiya can do anything and I know that there is nobody stronger than him. And you know bhaiya never did believe that I have grown up and I still do believe that he can do anything. I wish he gets back before 10th Nov

From:

kskalsi.livejournal.com

hello shalini?

how r uncle , aunty and Ms Chaitali sinha?.

From: (Anonymous)

The link seems to have died down , i still pray for him everyday, i was in congo with him , May god be with him and his family .Noel

From:

shalini-s-a.livejournal.com

Its exactly one month today from the day Shyamal went missing.

From: (Anonymous)

Shyamal & his colleagues are in my thoughts everyday.
I wish I was back at home with you Shalini to show you my support.

Dani (your step-daughter)

From: (Anonymous)

Neither is our patience running out nor is our conviction fading away.We believe that Shyamal and his men are going to make it against all odds.If there's a god above,We shall have him below,amongst us soon.Shyamal!Keep the faith.Take Care.

Shyamals Gang of Boys at TAFS

From: (Anonymous)

Please do not say was!!! He is still in the Mountain where he will rest and enjoy himself forever. There is nothing more he would have wanted. Do not have any words to say to his wife and Son!!! Think of him living on the mountain where he will always be there for you!!! Hope to pay him a visit one day!

From:

dilraj.livejournal.com

Dear Shalini

I am devastated to hear about my dear friend. Indeed your self and entire family have had to face an irreplaceable loss.

I was fortunate to have had a memorable asociation while i was posted to HAWS between 2000 and 2003. It was during this period i and indeed my parents had the opportunity to enjoy Shyamal's company and then Chaitali and his loved Gypsy and Caesar.

Since leaving the army I had lost contact till I accidentally chanced upon this post.

I have tears as I write. I would be grateful if you are able to mail me your contact.. My parents who are with me are deeply shocked and extend their condolences and extend their support and strength. I can only say that Shyamal is happy to have found a home to rest in the mountains whom he so dearly loved.

God bless him and give strength to his family.

Please convey our hearfelt condolences to Chaitali and our love to his son.

Dilraj Singh, Major (retd) drdilraj@gmail.com

From: (Anonymous)

Hi di,

I miss my brother like all you & in our home we love him & respect the way always he will be with us.god bless my bro soul.

From: (Anonymous)

Hi Shalini,
Shyamal, Dilraj seved with me in Haws and remember talking to you, your wedding, Chaitali joining as a newly wedded wife to Shyamal, Gypsy and then her litter.
I was shocked to hear abour Shyamal and his last expedition from Dilraj.. I am sure he is there in the mountains he loved...Annaporna, Everest and Nanda Devi were always on the top of his mind and he always wanted to pay his respects to the peak..
Shiva Kumar, bangalore