New Delhi [India], May 16: In a landmark achievement, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has successfully scaled Mount Makalu (8,485 m)—the world’s fifth-highest peak—marking the first-ever ascent of the summit by any Central Armed Police Force (CAPF).
Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated the jawans on their remarkable feat. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Shah wrote:
“Congratulations to the ITBP jawans on their stellar success in summiting Mount Makalu, the fifth highest peak in the world. Braving extreme weather conditions, the ITBP personnel unfurled the Tiranga at the peak and carried out a cleanliness drive inspired by PM Shri @narendramodi Ji’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, removing 150 kg of garbage.”
He praised their courage, commitment, and environmental initiative, reinforcing national pride in their efforts.
The summit took place on April 19 as part of ITBP’s historic international dual-peak expedition to Mount Makalu and Mount Annapurna (8,091 m), flagged off on March 21 from the ITBP Headquarters in New Delhi. This was the first dual expedition in the force’s history, underscoring its elite mountaineering capabilities.
The 12-member team, led by Deputy Commandant Anoop Kumar Negi with Deputy Commandant Nihas Suresh as deputy leader, was split into two groups. The Makalu team recorded an 83% summit success rate, with five climbers reaching the summit at 8:15 AM on April 19. The successful climbers were:
- Assistant Commandant Sanjay Kumar
- Head Constable Sonam Stobdan
- Head Constable Pradeep Panwar
- Head Constable Bahadur Chand
- Constable Vimal Kumar
The Annapurna team, meanwhile, faced blizzards and whiteouts and reached up to 7,940 meters—just 150 meters short of the summit—before making a safe descent at 2:45 PM the same day.
As part of its “Clean Himalaya – Save Glacier” campaign, the ITBP removed 150 kg of non-biodegradable waste from high-altitude camps, showcasing the force’s dedication to environmental conservation in some of the world’s most fragile ecosystems.
With this ascent, ITBP has now successfully climbed six of the world’s 14 eight-thousanders, including:
- Mt. Everest
- Mt. Kanchenjunga
- Mt. Dhaulagiri
- Mt. Lhotse
- Mt. Manaslu
- Mt. Makalu
The force has scaled 229 peaks in total, cementing its legacy as India’s premier high-altitude paramilitary unit with unparalleled expertise in mountain warfare and rescue operations.