The Re birth of a scientist.

               The composition of winter team to Antarctica depends upon few factors,like accommodation available,tasks in hand, priority of tasks etc.So there is no hard and fast rules except accomodation restriction. Generally Dakshingangotri can accomodate 15-20 persons only.The fourth winter team had 17 members.But Colonel Ganesan's 5 th winter team had only 15 members.
                     The distribution was as under;                              1.Leader & Station Commander-1.                              2.Medical officer (Surgical Specialist )-1                              3.Corps of Engineers team-2                              4.Corps of EME Team (Veh Mech,Electrician,and O I/CTeam.-4                              5.Radio communication team -Indian Navy-3                              6.Scientist-3                              7.Cook -1                  Total -15.Though the number looks small,each member is capable of playing the role of Three-FourTradesmen role.
                        About 42 scientific institutions project their demands to go to Antarctica.A highly qualified scientific Body detailed by Department of Ocean Development scrutinise their demands and finaly select 3-5  members  who can carry out their own experiments and also that of other closely associated  scientific body.
               The 5 th Winter team had 3 members from the scintific body.Two from Indian Meteorological Department and one from Indian Institute of Geomagnetism.

                                                        Mr.Sudhakar Rao,Scientist,IMD                 

                                           Mr.P M Gulane,Scientist,IMD

                             

                                 Ragav Chandra Deka,Scientist,I I G M

                             Those who are following Colonel Ganesan's blog will know that the indian station at Antarctica was totally burried and members use a life saving "Escape shaft "whenever one has to come out of the station.

                         

               Colonel Ganesan had thorough knowledge about Survival at Antarctica.So now and then he had been briefing the members about DOs and DON'Ts.He always spend time with members working outside and learning about their works.For example he will accompany the IMD Scientist to release hydrozen gas filled ballon.The baloon will be attached with an instrument and go upto about 35 Km in the space emitting various singalas which will be recorded at the laboratary inside the station.
                    The Station will be on 24 hours observation about any danger.At night the team is divided into 7 groups of 2 each with cook duty exemption.

                        It was 19 September 1988,the station was under the grip of blizzard.Ganesan was on duty previous night and taking rest.Time was about 1530 hrs.There was great disturbance in the station as one of the IMD scientist Sudhakar Rao was missing from the station.He was on duty and had gone out for taking 1500 hrs reading at the observatory but did not return.As he was not found any where in the station the members decided to wake up Leader Colonel Ganesan and inform him.

                     Ganesan ,was shocked to know the details.Sudhakar has violated colonel's instructions,not to go out in blizzard,and that no one will move out side in single.How ever as time is running out colonel immediately swung into action.Doctor to keep first aid eqpts ready including hot water filled bags.
                    Ganesan and one of the young bachelor took 200 m nylon rope.He nominated the next station incharge if Ganesan did not return.

   They both came out through the escape shaft and landed outside through the the ladder kept outside. One end of the rope was tied to the ladder and the other end was slowly released as they both moved here and there in search of the scientist. The blizzard was about 70-80 knots and was blowing with gusting inbetween.

                      After about 30-40 mts search they had hit a bundle of ice,and it was Sudhakar Rao ,the scientist in a semi concious state.Ganesan and his assistant dragged the scientist to the ladder.With the help of other members he was brought inside the station.

                       The ice pack on the body surface cannot be pulled out as it will pull the hair and skin.It has to be melted out.The exaust of the generator was opened and hot air was blown on the scientist.After few minutes struggle the scientist opened the eyes.

                                   The team on that 19 Sep 1988 evening celeberated "Sudhakar Rao Re Birth "

                        What happened will be explained with detailed sketch subsquently.That will show the characterestics of the mysterious continent Antarctica.