Defence Minister Rajnath Singh officially launched two important mountaineering expeditions to Mount Everest and Mount Kangchenjunga from South Block, New Delhi. These expeditions, organized by the Indian Army, aim to highlight the courage, skill, and determination of the armed forces and National Cadet Corps (NCC).
The Indian Army’s Mount Everest expedition consists of 34 climbers who will take the traditional South Col Route. Their team is led by Lieutenant Colonel Manoj Joshi. At the same time, a joint Indo-Nepal team will attempt to climb Mount Kangchenjunga. This team includes 12 mountaineers from the Indian Army and six from the Nepali Army, under the leadership of Colonel Sarfaraz Singh.
Another exciting expedition is the NCC team’s journey to Mount Everest. Led by Colonel Amit Bisht, this group includes five girl cadets, five boy cadets, four officers, and 11 permanent instructor staff. All three expeditions will begin this month, and the teams aim to reach the summits by May 2025.
Speaking at the event, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh praised the mountaineers for their bravery, hard work, and dedication. He expressed confidence that their achievements would inspire young people and strengthen India's reputation in high-altitude mountaineering.
The flag-off ceremony was attended by important dignitaries, including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Nepal’s Ambassador to India Dr. Shankar P. Sharma, a Nepalese delegation, and other senior civil and military officials. These expeditions are expected to create new records in mountaineering and encourage future generations to pursue their dreams with passion and determination. (PR)