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Guwahati: A group of 20 mountaineers has accomplished an extraordinary feat by successfully ascending the highest peaks in every state of India to raise the national flag atop each summit. These climbers, hailing from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) in Arunachal Pradesh, embarked on the “Har Shikhar Tiranga” mission, marking a pioneering expedition.
This remarkable undertaking was part of the “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav,” a nationwide celebration commemorating India’s 75th year of independence and aligned with India’s G20 presidency.
Nonetheless, this daring expedition was not without its challenges. On the night of October 3, the team, which had recently conquered Mt. Jongsong in Sikkim, faced a life-threatening situation when a sudden cloudburst triggered flash floods. “We had barely breathed a sigh of relief after completing our mission when, around 10 pm, the first waters came rushing in. Our team managed to evacuate with our belongings in just 10 minutes, and as mountaineers, our instincts led us up the hills. I believe that 10-minute window and heading for higher ground rather than descending saved us,” explained Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal, the leader of the mountaineering team.
Traversing the entire length and breadth of the country, the team encountered challenging terrains in the remotest corners. Colonel Jamwal stated, “The expedition involved traveling across the country, which came with challenges like a lack of transportation, poor road conditions in many remote areas, security concerns in Maoist-affected regions, and communication difficulties with local communities due to language barriers.”
In addition to their remarkable feats, the mountaineers also discovered that many of the highest peaks in various states remain unnamed. They pointed out that the highest point in the state of Punjab lacks a name and is situated in the Naina Devi Range.
The mission, which commenced in Arunachal Pradesh on October 16 the previous year, covered approximately 30,000 kilometers across all Indian states, making it a truly unprecedented adventure in the nation’s history.
