BSF launches mountaineering expedition to scale four peaks in Ladakh, Himachal

The Border Security Force (BSF) is undertaking a mountaineering expedition to scale four high peaks in Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul region as part of its advanced high altitude Alpine training to enhance the capabilities of its mountaineers.

This expedition has a dual purpose: to pay homage to 13 BSF mountaineers who lost their lives during an expedition to the 7,672-metre high Saser Kangri-1 peak in Nubra Valley and to spearhead the ‘Swachh Bharat - Clean Himalaya’ and ‘Hum Fit to India Fit’ campaigns.

The peaks that will be scaled in this expedition include Mount Yunam (6,111 m), Mount Thugje (6,128 m), Mount Thugje East (6,080 m) and Mount Mentok (6,250 m).

The expedition was flagged off on August 2 by Ashok Kumar, Inspector General (Training), from the BSF Institute of Adventure and Advance Training (BIAAT) in Dehradun.

The team, comprising 35 members, including climbers as well as support staff, medical and transport staff, will complete the expedition in 34 days. The members include highly seasoned mountaineers with numerous successful ascents as well as freshly recruited climbers. Women personnel are also a part of the expedition.

The team is being led by Deputy Commandant Loveraj Singh Dharamshaktu, a Padma Shree recipient and the only mountaineer in India to have summited Mount Everest seven times.

In its endeavour to keep the mighty Himalayas pristine and trash-free, the team will also collect waste from high-altitude camps, ranging from 14,000 feet to 20,500 feet, on their descent for proper disposal.