Gangtok, May 21: Pratima Rai, a 19-year-old political science student from Ghum in Darjeeling, has become the first female National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadet from Bengal to successfully reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Pratima, who studies at St Joseph’s College, was the only female cadet selected from Bengal for the NCC all-girls expedition team. She was among 19 cadets chosen from across India following a selection process that began in September 2024. The team departed from Delhi in March 2025 to undertake the expedition.
The NCC team reached the summit at 3 a.m. on May 18, marking a notable achievement. Captain Dhiraj Bhraman, associate NCC officer at St Joseph’s College, confirmed that Pratima and the other members were descending safely and in good health.
Captain Bhraman described Pratima’s accomplishment as a significant milestone for the college and the region, highlighting that it would encourage young women from the hills to pursue ambitious goals.
The college administration termed the achievement a moment of pride and said it would serve as an inspiration for students across the region.
