Expedition in memory of institute founder

Manali, July 29

In remembrance of Thakur Harnam Singh, the founder Principal of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali, the alumni of the institute are all set to climb an unclimbed and unnamed peak at an altitude of 6,105 m in Zing Zing Bar (Darcha panchayat, Lahaul & Spiti valley).

Thakur Harnam Singh was instrumental in the formation of the institute in 1961. The 11-member team will be led by a 2007-batch Indian Revenue Service officer Vikrant Pal Singh, who is currently holding the post of Additional Commissioner of Income Tax in Kolkata.

The mission is also part of the 75 years of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, currently being celebrated at the institute. The expedition was flagged off by the institute’s Director, Avinash Negi, on July 28. The team will be assisted by Pawan Thakur. The flagging-in ceremony will be done by Lahaul and Spiti DC Sumit Khimta on August 5 at Keylong.

The team will also send a proposal to the IMF for naming the peak in the name of Late Thakur Harnam Singh after its successful ascent. Viplove Thakur, former Rajya Sabha member and wife of late Thakur Harnam Singh, has extended her good wishes for the success of the expedition. The team members include Vikrant Pal Singh, Ashish Singh, Omkar Joshi, Tanay Nehate, Kalawati Baral, Menka Gunjayal, Abhishek Gaikwad, Siddhesh Kadam, Dr Sandeep Kalia, Nishant Thakur and Santosh Rao.