Binita Soren, Meghlal Mahto and Rajendra Singh Pal with Bachendri Pal before leaving for the trip. Telegraph picture

It’s the turn of the brother to claim the heights.

And proud but anxious sister, mountaineer par excellence Bachendri Pal, is standing by younger brother Rajendra Singh Pal (53) as he prepares to wrest his Everest dream exactly 28 years after she became India’s first woman to scale it.

With Rajendra are two young rural adventure buffs, Meghlal Mahto (30) and Binita Soren (25).

The three Everest aspirants didn’t fly up the base camp but are trekking uphill to “acclimatise themselves”.

Backing them fully, Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) prepared an exhaustive training-cum-acclimatisation chart for the trio.

Rajendra is an experienced climber, but his earlier attempt to ace the Everest had proved abortive. Meghlal and Binita have comparatively less mountaineering experience.

“The TSAF wants to be doubly sure that all three climbers achieve the feat without hassles. The acclimatisation trip on difficult terrain is essential. They are expected to climb up to 20,300ft to Island Peak by April 15,” said TSAF secretary P.P. Kapadia.

Bachendri, as Tata Steel adventure programmes chief, concurred.

“I joined Meghlal, Binita and Rajendra for nine days during the acclimatisation process to boost their morale. I trekked with the trio till Tengboche yesterday, focussing on their psychological aspects and also shared memories of my Everest journey with them. I then trekked back to Kathmandu, leaving the three in the care of support staff or sherpas,” Bachendri told The Telegraph over phone from New Delhi.

From Island Peak, it should take them three days to reach the Everest. The way to Island Peak base camp is via Loboche (16,200ft) and Chukung (16,700ft). Everest stands tall at a lofty 29,084ft.

For the trio, the Everest D-Day is April 18.

But for many, including Bachendri, the winning note is the three choosing to skip the aerial route to the base camp.

“They could have easily flown to Lukla, near the Everest first base camp. Teams to Everest generally go to Lukla by air, but they listened to us when we asked them to slog it out,” said Bachendri.

She added the climb has been worth it.

“The three are in high spirits and have so far experienced no problems at all. They have settled into a nice groove and the acclimatisation process is going on very well. The climbers are confident of returning to Jamshedpur with fond memories of Everest,” the veteran climber said.

Rajendra, a late addition to the list of serious Everest aspirants, is manager at Tata Steel adventure programmes while Meghlal and Binita hail from Paharpur and Kesosora villages in Seraikela-Kharsawan district.

Meghlal and Binita have done basic and advance mountaineering courses.

Meghlal has climbed Mt Kangri (20,305ft) and Saser Kangri (24,331ft) while Binita (25) has aced Stok Kangri, Saser Kangri and Karaoram Pass (18381ft). She was part of Indian women’s first Thar Desert Expedition from Bhuj in Gujarat to Wagah in Punjab, which links Amritsar and Lahore, on a camel safari of over 2000km.

But the Everest is another altitude altogether.