New Delhi: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday flagged in the first Ascent mountaineering expedition, a team that summited 20 previously unclimbed peaks above 6,000 metres in Ladakh in 23 days, the defence ministry said.
The 20-member team from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS), Dirang, was led by Col Ranveer Singh Jamwal. It recorded the first-ever ascents of 20 peaks in the Chamser-Lungser, Gyama Nala and Chokula areas of the Ladakh Range, according to the ministry.
Interacting with the climbers at the flag-in ceremony, Singh commended their courage and determination, calling the expedition a demonstration of India’s mountaineering excellence and leadership in adventure sports.
He said the ascents set new benchmarks and would inspire young mountaineers across the country to take up adventure and exploration.
The ministry described the expedition as a showcase of exceptional planning, technical expertise, endurance and teamwork, adding that it strengthened India’s presence on the global mountaineering map and was aimed at promoting adventure and exploration in high-altitude frontier regions.
Defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and other senior ministry officials attended the ceremony at Kartavya Bhavan-2 in New Delhi.
Who is Col Ranveer Singh Jamwal?
Col Jamwal, presently the director of NIMAS, is among the country’s most decorated mountaineers. Commissioned into the Indian Army in 1998, he completed his skiing and mountaineering courses at the High Altitude Warfare School, Gulmarg, in 2003, and later specialised in search and rescue at the Swiss Mountain School, Andermatt.
He became the first Indian to climb the Seven Summits – the highest peaks on all seven continents – and has summited Mount Everest three times, in 2012, 2013 and 2016, leading Indian Army expeditions on each occasion.
He has undertaken more than 70 mountaineering expeditions and holds several Indian and Asian records.
In 2022, he led the Har Shikhar Tiranga Mission, becoming the first person to hoist the national flag atop the highest peaks of all 28 Indian states. The same year, he led a seven-member team on a 1,100km cycling expedition across India’s north-eastern states.
His honours include the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award, the Sena Medal, a bar to the Vishisht Seva Medal, and the Indian Mountaineering Foundation Gold Medal.
