Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh flagged in a historic mountaineering expedition by the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS), Dirang, after its team successfully summited 20 previously unclimbed peaks above 6,000 metres in the Ladakh Range.
The expedition achieved the 20 summits in just 23 days, marking the first recorded ascents of 20 such peaks in the Ladakh Range and representing a major achievement for Indian mountaineering and high-altitude exploration.
The 20-member expedition was led by accomplished mountaineer Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal. The team operated in demanding high-altitude terrain, where low oxygen levels, extreme weather, snow and difficult approaches presented significant physical and logistical challenges.
Over the course of the expedition, the mountaineers successfully reached the summits of 20 previously unclimbed peaks, each standing at an altitude exceeding 6,000 metres.
Completing such a large number of first ascents within 23 days required extensive planning, acclimatisation, physical endurance, technical mountaineering skills and close coordination among team members.
The expedition also involved exploring largely uncharted climbing routes and assessing conditions while progressing through the Ladakh Range, adding an element of exploration to the mountaineering challenge.
Rajnath Singh formally welcomed the expedition team following the successful completion of its mission and recognised the achievement of its members.
Led by Col Ranveer Singh Jamwal, the team showcased India’s growing capabilities in high-altitude mountaineering and adventure activities while demonstrating endurance, teamwork and resilience in an extreme Himalayan environment.
NIMAS, based at Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh, conducts training and expeditions across mountaineering and other adventure disciplines. Its teams have undertaken challenging expeditions in India and abroad as part of efforts to promote adventure, exploration and specialised outdoor skills.
The successful ascent of 20 previously unclimbed peaks adds another milestone to the institute’s record of high-altitude expeditions.
The achievement also contributes to the exploration and documentation of climbing opportunities in the Ladakh Range, an area characterised by remote terrain, high elevations and challenging climatic conditions.
The expedition’s completion in just 23 days highlighted the preparation and coordination of the 20-member team and marked a notable chapter in India’s mountaineering history.
