ITBP Launches 27-Member Mountaineering Expedition to Mt Kamet and Mt Abi Gamin

Shatrujeet Kapur, IPS, the Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), officially commenced the ITBP’s Mountaineering Expedition–2026 to Mt Kamet and Mt Abi Gamin. The flag-off ceremony took place at the ITBP Force Headquarters in New Delhi.

The expedition involves a 27-member team from ITBP aiming to conquer Mt Kamet, which stands at 7,756 meters, and Mt Abi Gamin, reaching 7,355 meters, both located in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand. This mission underscores the force’s enduring connection with high-altitude operations and its esteemed tradition of mountaineering excellence.

In his interaction with the expedition members during the flag-off event, DG Shatrujeet Kapur extended his best wishes for the challenging journey ahead. The expedition will test the participants' endurance, technical mountaineering skills, coordination, and resilience in the harsh terrain and climatic conditions of the Himalayas.

Mt Kamet, one of India’s tallest peaks, presents a formidable challenge due to its high altitude, unpredictable weather, and challenging approach routes. Situated near the Indo-Tibetan border, it has long attracted seasoned mountaineers eager to test their skills in high-altitude conditions.

Nearby Mt Abi Gamin, standing at 7,355 meters, is another significant peak in the Himalayas that demands advanced technical expertise, acclimatization, and meticulous expedition planning. The attempt to summit both peaks in a single expedition highlights the ambitious nature of the ITBP mission.

The 27-member team will undergo extensive acclimatization and set up camps at increasing altitudes before attempting the summits. These expeditions necessitate careful transportation of personnel, equipment, food supplies, communication systems, and specialized climbing gear across glaciers, snowfields, and steep mountain slopes.

For the ITBP, mountaineering expeditions align closely with the force's operational duties. Known as the “Himveers,” ITBP personnel serve along some of India’s most challenging and remote Himalayan frontiers, where posts are located at high altitudes and exposed to extreme cold, heavy snowfall, avalanches, and rapidly shifting weather conditions.

Engagement in mountaineering and adventure activities regularly enhances the ITBP personnel’s skills necessary for survival, movement, rescue, and operations in mountainous environments. High-altitude expeditions also provide crucial experience in acclimatization, navigation, glacier movement, rope techniques, and emergency response.

Since its inception in 1962, the ITBP has cultivated extensive expertise in mountain warfare, high-altitude deployment, and disaster response. Its members have participated in numerous mountaineering missions across the Himalayas, successfully scaling several notable peaks over the years.

The force has also made significant contributions to rescue and relief efforts following avalanches, landslides, flash floods, and other disasters in the Himalayan states. The specialized training acquired through mountaineering expeditions directly enhances the force’s capability to respond effectively to emergencies in remote mountainous areas.

The Mt Kamet and Mt Abi Gamin Mountaineering Expedition–2026 is more than just an adventure mission. It serves as an opportunity for the participants to hone their high-altitude skills while exemplifying the physical endurance, discipline, and teamwork that characterize the force.

With the expedition officially launched from New Delhi, the 27-member team is now set to head towards the Garhwal Himalayas to embark on their journey to the two towering summits. The mission continues the ITBP's proud legacy of pushing human endurance limits while maintaining professional excellence in some of the world’s most demanding high-altitude settings.