Sambalpur, June 27: A five-day mountaineering training camp was organised at Pradhanpat in Deogarh district to promote adventure tourism in the district.

The camp, organised jointly by the Deogarh district administration and the Odisha Mountaineering Trust, came to an end last evening.

Around 80 people from several schools and colleges of Deogarh and aged between 15 and 25 took part in the camp. Eminent mountaineer Jogabyasa Bhoi trained the participants on trekking, rappelling and rock-climbing. A plantation drive was also carried out near the Pradhanpat waterfall during the training camp.

Bhoi, a primary school teacher from Kalahandi district, had scaled Mount Everest in May 2011. He said that apart from physical fitness, the basics of mountaineering were taught to the participants.

He also said Pradhanpat was a good place to hold such camps.

"Ten trainers, including Bhoi, taught the participants," said district sports officer Chandan Sahu.

The participants used to undergo a medical test every morning before their training began around 7.30am.

In the afternoon, they were being divided into groups and took part in several recreational activities organised in the foothills of Pradhanpat.

"This is a really good initiative. The district administration should think of organising such camps every year," said Deogarh resident Manas Pradhan.