Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Shatrujeet Kapur, IPS, flagged off the force’s Mountaineering Expedition–2026 to Mt Kamet and Mt Abi Gamin from the ITBP Force Headquarters in New Delhi.
The expedition will see a 27-member ITBP team attempt to scale Mt Kamet, standing at an altitude of 7,756 metres, and Mt Abi Gamin, which rises to 7,355 metres in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand. The mission reflects the force’s longstanding association with high-altitude operations and its rich tradition of mountaineering excellence.
During the flag-off ceremony, DG Shatrujeet Kapur interacted with the expedition members and conveyed his best wishes for the challenging mission ahead. The expedition is expected to test the team’s endurance, technical mountaineering abilities, coordination and resilience in some of the most difficult terrain and climatic conditions encountered in the Himalayas.
Mt Kamet is among the highest peaks in India and represents a formidable mountaineering challenge because of its extreme altitude, unpredictable weather and demanding approach routes. Located close to the Indo-Tibetan border region, the mountain has long attracted experienced mountaineers seeking to test their skills in high-altitude conditions.
Nearby Mt Abi Gamin, at 7,355 metres, is another prominent Himalayan peak requiring advanced technical expertise, acclimatisation and careful expedition planning. Attempting both mountains during the same expedition further underlines the ambitious nature of the ITBP mission.
The 27-member contingent will undertake extensive acclimatisation and establish camps at progressively higher altitudes before launching summit attempts. Such expeditions involve careful movement of personnel, equipment, food supplies, communication systems and specialised climbing gear across glaciers, snowfields and steep mountain slopes.
For the ITBP, mountaineering expeditions are closely connected with the force’s operational responsibilities. Known as the “Himveers”, ITBP personnel are deployed along some of India’s most difficult and remote Himalayan frontiers, where posts are located at extremely high altitudes and remain exposed to severe cold, heavy snowfall, avalanches and rapidly changing weather.
Regular exposure to mountaineering and adventure activities helps ITBP personnel strengthen skills required for survival, movement, rescue and operations in mountainous terrain. High-altitude expeditions also provide valuable experience in acclimatisation, navigation, glacier movement, rope techniques and emergency response.
Since its raising in 1962, the ITBP has developed extensive expertise in mountain warfare, high-altitude deployment and disaster response. Its personnel have participated in numerous mountaineering missions across the Himalayas and have successfully scaled several prominent peaks over the decades.
The force has also played an important role in rescue and relief operations following avalanches, landslides, flash floods and other disasters in Himalayan states. The specialised training gained through mountaineering expeditions contributes directly to the force’s ability to respond effectively during emergencies in remote mountainous regions.
The Mt Kamet and Mt Abi Gamin Mountaineering Expedition–2026 therefore represents more than an adventure mission. It is also an opportunity for participating personnel to sharpen high-altitude skills while demonstrating the physical endurance, discipline and teamwork associated with the force.
With the expedition formally flagged off from New Delhi, the 27-member team will now proceed towards the Garhwal Himalayas to begin its journey towards the two towering summits. The mission continues the ITBP’s proud legacy of pushing the limits of human endurance while maintaining professional excellence in some of the world’s most demanding high-altitude environments.
