**Summary:**
On August 4, 2025, the Ministry of Defence announced the successful summit of Mt. Merag III (6,480M) and Mt. Kangju Kangri (6,710M), the highest peaks in the Pangong Tso region of Ladakh, by a Joint Expedition Team. The team comprised instructors from three National Mountaineering Institutes: Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering Winter Sports (JIMWS) Pahalgam, Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) Uttarkashi, and Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) Darjeeling. The expedition, flagged off on July 24, 2025, in Sonamarg, was led by Colonel Hem Chandra Singh, Principal JIMWS Pahalgam, and included experienced mountaineers such as Sub Maj Hony Lt Retd Shri Rafiq Ahmad Malik (JIMWS), Hav Sajad Hussain (JIMWS), Nk Bharat Singh (JIMWS), Hav NA Yogesh (JIMWS), Sub Maj Hajari Lal (NIM), Nb Sub Bhupinder Singh (NIM), Shri Robin Gurung (HMI), and Shri Zubin Rai (HMI). The accomplishment highlights the courage, resilience, and teamwork of the team, and demonstrates India's capabilities in adventure sports and high-altitude expeditions.
Key Entities Referenced
Pangong Tso: A lake in the Union Territory of Ladakh, India.
Mt Merag III: A mountain peak with an altitude of 6,480 meters.
Ministry of Defence: The Indian government ministry responsible for national security and defense.
National Mountaineering Institutes: A collective term referring to the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering Winter Sports (JIMWS) Pahalgam, Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) Uttarkashi, and Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) Darjeeling.
Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering Winter Sports (JIMWS) Pahalgam: A premier mountaineering institute located in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) Uttarkashi: A premier mountaineering institute located in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, India.
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) Darjeeling: A premier mountaineering institute located in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.
Mt Kangju Kangri: A mountain peak with an altitude of 6,710 meters.
Ministry of Defence
Joint Expedition Team from three premier National
Mountaineering Institutes successfully summit
highest peaks in Pangong Tso region
Posted On: 04 AUG 2025 5:24PM by PIB Delhi
A Joint Expedition Team comprising Instructors from the premier National Mountaineering Institutes Jawahar
Institute of Mountaineering & Winter Sports (JIM&WS) Pahalgam; Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM)
Uttarkashi, and Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) Darjeeling, successfully summited Mt Merag-III
(6,480M) & Mt kangju Kangri (6710M), the highest peaks in Pangong Tso region, Union Territory of Ladakh.
The expedition was flagged off and lead by Colonel Hem Chandra Singh, Principal JIM&WS Pahalgam on
July 24, 2025 in Sonamarg, with an experienced team from all three National Institutes:
Sub Maj/ Hony Lt (Retd) Shri Rafiq Ahmad Malik (JIM&WS)Hav Sajad Hussain (JIM&WS)Nk Bharat
(cid:108)
Singh (JIM&WS)Hav/NA Yogesh (JIM&WS)Sub Maj Hajari Lal (NIM)Nb Sub Bhupinder
Singh(NIM)Shri Robin Gurung (HMI)Shri Zubin Rai (HMI)
Demonstrating exemplary courage, resilience, and teamwork amidst extreme weather conditions and extreme-
altitude challenges, the team set a benchmark in Indian mountaineering history. The landmark
accomplishment not only embodies the indomitable spirit and endurance of our nation’s mountaineers but also
stands as a proud testament to India’s growing prowess in adventure sports and high-altitude expeditions.
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SR/KB
(Release ID: 2152169)