Terrible Consequences

Terrible Consequences

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1994 10 October 7 Terrible Consequences (279)

November 1992 saw Sandeep Lamba at the apex of his career. Born on September 3, 1965, he had been educated at Khalsa college, Delhi University, where he received his B.Sc. degree. Imbued with the spirit of adventure, he joined the defence service, where he distinguished himself in adventure sports, and rose to the rank of lieutenant.

Greatly interested in mountaineering, he collected a team of army men and began his ascent of the 67310 metre high Abi Gamin Peak in Garhwal on August 18, 1992, continuing to climb until he reached the summit. As reported by the Hindustan Times of November 20, 1992, “His end came at the summit itself, soon after he had stood there with a triumphant smile. The snow pack on the summit gave way and he fell to his death thousands of feet down below” (p. 12).

His life’s journey had begun from his immediate sphere and then with a hard struggle he had managed to reach what was to be the zenith of his progress. At that very moment, the angel of death descended to snatch him away from the high point in his career, to cast him down to the nadir of lowliness.

The story of Lieutenant Lamba is not the story of just one individual. In actual fact, it is the story of every one of us. Only he who is obedient to God is exempt from such a tragic end. Only he who leads his life as commanded by God is destined to reach the pinnacle of success in the Life Hereafter.

(Taken from a news item, entitled ‘Tragedy after the Triumph’ published in the Hindustan Times of November 20, 1992).