Wings over Everest

Aerial Aid To Tackle Heaps Of Mountain Waste

Arpita Chakraborty, GT Network

In a bid to tackle the growing waste crisis on Mount Everest, drones have been deployed to transport garbage from Camp 1 down to base camp. Backed by the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee and operated by Nepal-based Airlift technology, the initiative is part of a broader effort to preserve the ecological integrity of what’s now dubbed as the ‘world’s highest garbage dump’. On one hand, these high-capacity drones signal a promising shift in high-altitude waste management but on the other side, whether this aerial solution proves to be sustainable solution remains to be seen. Here’s what Amitians have to say about the issue and the innovation taking flight.

Powerful allies to Sherpas
More people are lining up to make the climb each season, piling on the pressure for Sherpa guides, who often must make several trips up the mountain just to get everything ready before climbers even begin their journey. Drone technology especially DJI’s heavy-lift FlyCart 30 drones has emerged as a powerful ally in making Everest expeditions safer and more sustainable. It hauls up to 30 kg of ladders, ropes and oxygen to Camp 1 in about 12-15 minutes instead of Sherpas spending 6-8 harrowing hours in the icefall for the same. Moreover, these drones drastically cut exposure to avalanches and crevasse shifts and retrieve hundreds of kilograms of trash per season, including more than 280 kg in one month reducing both environmental impact and respiratory hazards for Sherpas. Also, the technology will expand Sherpas’ skills as trek’s decision-makers as it allows them to focus solely on their central role of guiding climbers. Hence, one can say that drones complement, but they cannot replace the intimate mountain wisdom of our Sherpas.
Aarnavi Singh
AIS VYC Lko, XII V

Humans scar the summit
The growing waste problem on Mount Everest is a stark symbol of the environmental toll of human ambition and adventure tourism. What should be a majestic natural wonder has unfortunately become, in places, the ‘world’s highest garbage dump’. The mountains are scattered with oxygen cylinders, tents, food wrappers, and even human waste - posing serious health risks. Despite cleanup efforts ranging from Nepal’s army and Sherpas hauling over a hundred tonnes of trash, these are stopgap remedies, not cures. Humans need to take a hard look at the mirror instead of looking for solutions in drones and other tech that is only going to pollute the mountains further. In essence, Mount Everest’s plight reflects a deeper truth - our pursuit of achievement through adventure tourism often overlooks its environmental cost. We demand breathtaking vistas and epic photos but neglect the fragile ecosystems we venture into. Until we recognise that legacy is measured not by the number of summits conquered but by trails protected, places like Everest will remain scarred by our ambitions.
Siddhartha Bhattacharya
AIS VKC Lko, XII B

Experiencing excellence

This summer, yet another historic milestone was achieved by Amity as we hosted the first-ever Academic Summit of Young Leaders, in collaboration with Oxford Global, UK. Held from June 2–6, 2025 at Amity University Dubai and Amity School Dubai, the summit was curated by Amity Educational Resource Centre (AERC) as a platform to empower our young minds with global perspectives. It was a moment of immense pride to witness twenty students from UK, UAE and India engage in academic exploration of diverse subjects and write research papers. Young subject experts from Indonesia, UK and India not only trained students in economics, psychology and AI, but also empowered them with new age skills making them world ready. Under the mentorship of distinguished Oxford alumni, our students experienced university-style lectures, research writing, formal academic presentations and diverse workshops. This collaboration is another milestone in Amity’s constant endeavour to bring the world to Amitians.
What made this summit memorable was the way our students embodied Amity’s core values as reflected in BHAAG, and their evocative cultural performance on Vande Mataram. Their brilliance was celebrated in a grand felicitation ceremony where many Amitians got the opportunity to interact with HE Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General, Embassy of India in Dubai. One of the poignant moments was interaction with Amity alumni and their families now settled in Dubai. Hearing their journey was inspiring, reaffirming the lasting bond we share—once an Amitian, always an Amitian. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to AERC on completing 20 glorious years and truly translating my vision of ‘Vasudev Kutumbakam’ into reality by fostering global citizenship rooted in compassion and values.

Return of RRR

Reading this edition’s top story on ‘resale’ took me down memory lane – to a time when resale didn’t mean profit, but purpose. In my childhood, the idea of the three Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - wasn’t just a trendy notion, it was simply the way we lived. Books were exchanged for bags, clothes were passed from sibling to sibling, and household items were given away to friends whenever official transfers happened. I vividly remember how my elder sister’s textbooks were passed on to an underprivileged girl in our neighbourhood. She used them with such dedication that she eventually became an IAS officer. A small act of reuse changed a life. Indeed, we valued our things because they were always meant to be reused. And, to make things easier, we had book binders in every market who restored worn out books to make them look almost new. Furniture, too, was kept in a great condition because neighbours and friends were always up for using pre-loved stuff! What we now call as ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (RRR)’ was second nature for us. Old clothes became stylish bags, newspapers were used as packing material, and calendars became wrapping paper for school notebooks. It wasn’t just about saving money - it was our way of practising minimalism long before the word became fashionable.
Today, as sustainability becomes a global concern, the way forward lies in looking back. It’s time for RRR to return - not just as a trending concept, but as a conscious way of life.

GT M@il

Dear Editor,
It was a delight to read that students had such a productive summer in all the articles published on page 7 of the GT edition dated July 7, 2025. From workshops to journalism to MUN camps, Amity extended opportunities for students to enrich themselves. It demonstrates the efforts Amity is making to provide holistic development and educate students about the BHAAG mantra of our respected Founder President Sir. A big thank you to GT members for displaying students’ hard work.
Naman Katyal, AIS Saket, XI D

The Purr-fect predicament, published on page 9 of the July 7  edition, had me completely enthralled. The idea of a ‘fur-filled’ catwalk was indeed inventive. The story brilliantly acted as a metaphor for life’s unexpected turns. It emphasised that the best answer to hardship is not retreat, but reinvention. In this situation, the solution was straightforward and elegant: design your way through it.
Yoshita Chug, AIS Vas 1, XI C