India'a Scientific Expedition to South Pole

On this Monday India's first scientific expedition to the South Pole will flag off.

An eight-member team of scientists, led by 62-year-old Rasik Ravindra, Director of the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, will embark on the treacherous journey to the South Pole from 'Maitri', India's research station in the Antarctic region.

During their 40-day journey, the scientists will conduct experiments, gather atmospheric data and collect ice cores from the frozen continent in their bid to understand the changes in the environment over past 1,000 years.


The team of scientists and vehicle mechanics will have to brave adverse weather conditions in the region, where it is summertime now and the highest temperature reaches 13.6 degrees Celsius below zero.