NEW DELHI, Sep 25: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday flagged in the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS), Dirang, expedition that achieved first recorded ascents of 20 previously unclimbed peaks in Ladakh in 23 days.
The expedition, led by NIMAS Director Col Ranveer Singh Jamwal, set a new world record by completing 20 first recorded summits, with every peak climbed standing above 6,000 metres.
Rajnath Singh congratulated NIMAS for the achievement and commended Col Jamwal for his leadership in conducting challenging high-altitude mountaineering and adventure expeditions. He also appreciated the institution's efforts to promote exploration, technical expertise and excellence in adventure sports.
The expedition was undertaken in the remote and challenging terrain of the Ladakh Himalaya. The team faced extreme altitude, difficult terrain, weather conditions and logistical challenges, requiring extensive planning, technical skills, endurance and coordinated teamwork.
Prior to the expedition, the unclimbed status of the identified peaks was verified with the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF), and the requisite permissions were obtained for the first-ascent attempts.
NIMAS said the achievement marks its third consecutive world record in the past three years, reflecting its growing capabilities in expedition planning, high-altitude mountaineering and exploration.
Established at Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh, NIMAS is a government institution dedicated to training and expeditions in land, aero and aqua adventure disciplines. Its activities include mountaineering, sport climbing, mountain biking, white-water rafting, kayaking, scuba diving, paragliding and other adventure sports.
Col Jamwal, who has over two decades of mountaineering experience, has summited Mount Everest three times and completed the Seven Summits. He has also led several high-altitude expeditions in remote and challenging mountain terrain.
The latest achievement marks another milestone for NIMAS and underscores the institution's growing role in advancing high-altitude mountaineering and adventure sports in India.