Chhanda Gayen (9 July 1979 – 20 May 2014)[1] was an Indian climber, martial artist, explorer, and teacher of self-defense. She is best known for being the first, and fastest, Indian to climb two eight-thousanders, Mount Everest and Lhotse, in one go, which she did on 18 May 2013.[2][3][4] She completed the traverse from the summit of Mount Everest to the summit of Lhotse in 22 hours.
Chhanda Gayen | |
---|---|
Born | Kona, West Bengal, India | 9 July 1979
Died | 20 May 2014 | (aged 34)
Nationality | Indian |
Occupation | Mountaineer |
Known for | Summiting Mount Everest |
She was awarded "Sera Avishkar" in Sera Bengali 2013 from ABP Ananda.[5][6][7][8][9]
On 20 May 2014, she went missing along with two sherpas in an avalanche while descending from the summit of Kanchenjunga in Nepal.[10] All three of them were later declared to have died in the avalanche.[1]