Kolkata, Nov 21 (IANS) Ace mountaineer and Everester Pradeep Sahoo died in Zimbabwe capital Harare following a severe heart attack, sources said on Monday.
Sahoo, 50, a popular face in the city's mountaineering circle, breathed his last on Sunday. He had gone to Harare for some personal work.
The mountaineer from Tollygunge in Kolkata scaled Mount Everest along with his wife Chetana in May this year on their third attempt.
Sahoo, the director of a mining company, had been climbing for years with his wife and started training for Mount Everest five years ago.
The sudden demise of the Everester, who was to be honoured with the Radhanath Shikdhar award by the West Bengal government later this month for his achievement, led to a mood of despondency among the mountaineering fraternity.
"I am shocked to hear that Pradeep da is not among us anymore. He was a brilliant mountaineer and a great man. It's sad that he could not enjoy his success of reaching the highest peak in the world for a longer period," said Everester Debasish Biswas, who accompanied Sahoo during his last trip to Mount Everest.
