On its 250th anniversary, the Survey of India (SOI) to measure the height of Mount Everest

To celebrate its 250th anniversary, the Survey of India (SOI) olans to measure the height of Mount Everest. The SOI is an organization that was established in 1767 to map the subcontinent for the East India Company and it continues to remain India's principal mapping agency.
After the Nepal earthquake of 2015, there have been a speculation that the natural disaster may have moved the peak.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 25 January 2017.

The Survey of India (SOI) will make use of modern satellite-linked instruments and traditional trigonometry to determine the peak's altitude. This is currently documented through multiple surveys at 8,848 metres (29,029 feet) above sea level.
The new Everest-measurement exercise will depend on two techniques - (i) some scientists will climb the peak and use global positioning system (GPS) instruments to measure its altitude (ii) others will use high-school trigonometry techniques to measure the altitude from surrounding locations in the Himalayas.
Mount Everest was first granted the title of the world's highest peak in 1856 after nearly two years of observations by SOI scientists and others. Subsequently, many other agencies have measured the height of the mountain's peak and the value has remained constant.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Prince Harry has come to Nepal on a five-day tour and was given a traditional welcome that featured five virgins - it was a ceremony signifying luck and purity. The young women greeted Prince Harry, their special guest, with gifts of flowers and placed a garland around the prince's neck. The welcome by the Panchakanya - five virgins in Sanskrit - was held at Kathmandu's famous Durbar Square in the heart of the Kathmandu's old town.
This has been reported in sky.news.com dated 20 March 2016.

The Prince accepted their gifts with a smile and headed off for a tour of the area which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. He was the special guest at a reception held by the Nepalese government to mark 200 years since a treaty was signed between the UK and Nepal recognizing the close relationship between the two independent countries.
While addressing the audience, he mentioned about the first anniversary of the earthquakes that took nearly 9000 lives and talked about drawing attention to the help that Nepal still needs to recover after last year's devastating earthquakes. Many people are still languishing in temporary camps.
Incidentally, Prince Harry's trip will also focus on Nepal's tourist trade, particularly conservation and trekking and he will pay tribute to the efforts of Gurkha soldiers, who have fought alongside British troops, including Prince Harry during his tenure in Afghanistan.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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#BhimsenTower #earthquake #nepalquake #Kathmandu Earthquake of 7.9 magnitude struck Nepal and left hundreds dead with houses damaged and destroyed as reported in news.sky.com dated 25 April 2015. Damages are extensive in the capital Kathmandu. The US Geological Survey has said that the quake struck 80-Km east of the central city of Pokhara which is near the capital.

Dozens of people have been killed after a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Nepal causing extensive damage in the capital Kathmandu and bringing down the iconic nine-storey Dharahara tower and trapping over 50 people in the rubble. This 19th Century tourist site is also called the Bhimsen Tower.
It seems many centuries-old temples have also been destroyed.
Initial reports indicate that at least 114 people have been confirmed dead across Nepal as per the home ministry and officials suggest that the figure could rise considerably.
The quake has also, reportedly, triggered a "huge avalanche" on Mount Everest, damaging the Everest base camp. Tremors were felt in neighboring countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. In India, tremors were felt in New Delhi and other northern cities.

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