ITBP achieves historic ascent of Mt. Makalu

New Delhi

In a historic feat, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) successfully reached the summit of Mt. Makalu (8,485 meters), the fifth highest peak in the world, on April 19. This marks the first-ever ascent of the peak by any Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), ITBP officials announced on Friday.

This achievement was part of the ITBP's International Mountaineering Expedition, which also aimed to summit Mt. Annapurna (8,091 meters). The expedition, which began on March 21 from ITBP Headquarters in New Delhi, was a significant milestone in the force’s history, showcasing their skills in high-altitude operations.

Led by Deputy Commandant Anoop Kumar Negi, the 12-member team was divided into two groups. The Makalu group achieved an impressive 83% summit success, with five climbers reaching the peak by 8:15 AM on April 19. The successful climbers included Assistant Commandant Sanjay Kumar, Head Constable Sonam Stobdan, and others.

While the Annapurna team faced harsh conditions like blizzards and whiteouts, they reached 7,940 meters before safely retreating. As part of their environmental initiative, the team also collected 150 kg of non-biodegradable waste, supporting the "Clean Himalaya - Save Glacier" campaign.

With the successful ascent of Mt. Makalu, the ITBP has now scaled six of the world’s 14 highest peaks, further solidifying its reputation in extreme mountaineering and high-altitude missions.