Kalimpong, September 2, 2026 — Subedar Dhakpa Tenzin, a highly accomplished member of the Special Frontier Force (SFF) and a two-time Mount Everest summiteer, died in the line of duty on August 29, 2026, while serving in a high-altitude region of Himachal Pradesh near the Tibet border.
Tenzin, who was in his late thirties, hailed from Selpokhari in Lava, Kalimpong district of West Bengal. He was serving with the Special Frontier Force when he died in the Leo Pargial, or Peak 6791, region, an extremely challenging mountainous sector close to the international border.
The precise circumstances surrounding his death have not been officially disclosed. Available information confirms that he died while performing his duties in the high-altitude sector.
Beyond his operational service, Tenzin had distinguished himself as an exceptional mountaineer. He successfully summited Mount Everest twice, an achievement that earned him recognition within the force. According to a retired SFF colleague, his mountaineering accomplishments also led to a special promotion to the rank of Subedar.
Tenzin was additionally known for participating in high-altitude marathons, reflecting the exceptional endurance and physical conditioning required for both competitive mountaineering and service in some of India’s most difficult Himalayan terrain.
Darjeeling Member of Parliament Raju Bista paid tribute to the fallen SFF personnel, describing Tenzin as a brave and dedicated member of the Special Frontier Force.
Bista said that Tenzin had successfully climbed Mount Everest twice and had served the country with exceptional valour, commitment and devotion. He also extended condolences to Tenzin’s family and loved ones.
Tenzin was unmarried, and both his parents had predeceased him. He is survived by his brother and sister and their families, who live in Lava. His mortal remains were expected to reach his hometown on September 2, where his final rites were scheduled to be performed the same day.
The death has brought mourning to his family and the local community in the Kalimpong hills, while tributes have highlighted a career that combined demanding operational service with extraordinary achievements in mountaineering.
The Special Frontier Force, popularly associated with the name Establishment 22, was raised in November 1962 in the aftermath of the Sino-Indian War. Unlike conventional Army formations, the SFF functions under the Cabinet Secretariat.
The force has historically drawn heavily from the Tibetan refugee community as well as Gorkhas, whose familiarity with Himalayan terrain and ability to operate at extreme altitudes have made them particularly suited to specialised missions in mountainous regions.
Originally created for unconventional and covert operations along India’s Himalayan frontier, the SFF has over the decades been associated with some of India’s most sensitive military operations. Its personnel participated in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and have also been associated with operations during the 1999 Kargil conflict. Because of the organisation’s covert nature, many details concerning its deployments and operations remain outside the public domain.
The force once again attracted widespread public attention during tensions along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh in 2020, highlighting the continuing importance of troops trained to operate in extreme Himalayan environments.
Tenzin’s death in the Leo Pargial region underscores the dangers faced by personnel deployed in India’s high-altitude frontier areas. At elevations approaching 7,000 metres, troops and specialised units can face extreme cold, rapidly changing weather, avalanches, crevasses, difficult terrain and the physiological effects of operating with severely reduced oxygen levels.
For the people of Lava and Kalimpong, Tenzin leaves behind a particularly distinguished legacy — that of a soldier who served in one of India’s most specialised forces while also conquering the world’s highest mountain twice.
His journey from the Himalayan hills of Kalimpong to the summit of Mount Everest and his subsequent service along India’s high-altitude frontier marked a career defined by endurance, courage and commitment.
Subedar Dhakpa Tenzin died while serving in the mountains that had defined much of his professional life, leaving behind a legacy both as an SFF soldier and an accomplished Indian mountaineer.
