New Delhi

On Wednesday, the Indian Army and Tiranga Mountain Rescue (TMR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies in Delhi Cantt. This agreement focuses on enhancing rescue and survival operations in mountainous terrains.

According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the MoU outlines that TMR will work with the Indian Army to develop specialized training programs for Army instructors. These programs aim to improve their skills in avalanche rescue and survival techniques. This initiative builds on an earlier 2016 agreement with the Northern Command and expanded collaborations with Eastern and Central Commands in 2021 and 2024.

The new MoU will leverage TMR’s expertise to further strengthen the Indian Army’s rescue capabilities under challenging conditions. General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff, praised TMR’s contributions and presented Chief of Army Staff Commendation Cards to two TMR team members for their exceptional efforts.

Maj Gen Manish Luthra signed the MoU for the Indian Army, while Hemant Sachdev, an experienced mountaineer and Everest summiteer, represented TMR. Lieutenant General Tarun Kumar Aich highlighted the MoU as beneficial for both organizations, noting TMR’s significant role in saving lives through training and rescue operations over the past nine years. Sachdev added that TMR teams are actively deployed with the Army and have saved many lives in avalanche-prone regions.