Defence Secretary flags-in mountaineering expeditions to Everest, Kilimanjaro

New Delhi, Jul 17: Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh formally welcomed back two mountaineering teams that successfully summited Mount Everest and Mount Kilimanjaro at a ceremony held at South Block, New Delhi.

The Everest expedition marked the 60th anniversary of the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), Uttarkashi.

It was conducted in collaboration with the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Darjeeling, and the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering & Winter Sports (JIM&WS), Pahalgam.

The Kilimanjaro mission, organised by HMI, featured a notable achievement by team member Uday Kumar, a Divyangjan with a 91% above-knee amputation. Speaking at the event, the Defence Secretary praised the resilience and courage of both teams, noting that the expeditions reflected India’s growing stature in the field of mountaineering and adventure sports.

He said the successful summits serve as an inspiration for young adventurers across India and beyond. He also highlighted the role of the country’s premier mountaineering institutes, HMI, NIM, JIM&WS, and the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) in advancing the government’s vision of youth empowerment and self-reliance, a key focus of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Everest expedition was led by NIM Principal Col Anshuman Bhadauria, with Col Hem Chandra Singh serving as Deputy Leader. The team also included experienced instructors from the three institutes: Rakesh Singh Rana, Sub Bahadur Pahan, Hav Rajendra Mukhiya, Nk Thupstan Tsewang, and Pasang Tenzing Sherpa.