New Delhi: In a landmark achievement, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) successfully climbed Mt. Makalu—at 8,485 meters, the fifth highest mountain in the world—on April 19, 2025. This marks the first time any Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) has scaled the peak. Notably, both Mt. Makalu and Mt. Annapurna, which were the focus of this twin summit mission, are located in Nepal.
The international expedition, flagged off from the ITBP headquarters in New Delhi on March 21, 2025, was a historic endeavour for the Force. It was the first time the ITBP had attempted both mountains, making it a unique and challenging operation in the Force’s mountaineering history.
The mission was led by Deputy Commandant (DC) Anoop Kumar Negi, with DC Nihas Suresh serving as the deputy leader. A total of 12 personnel participated in the expedition, split into two groups of six each. The Makalu team recorded a remarkable 83% success rate, with five members reaching the summit at approximately 8:15 am on April 19. The climbers who reached the top were:
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Assistant Commandant Sanjay Kumar
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Head Constable Sonam Stobdan
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Head Constable Pradeep Panwar
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Head Constable Bahadur Chand
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Constable Vimal Kumar
The Annapurna team battled severe weather conditions, including a snowstorm and whiteout. Despite these challenges, they made a determined push and reached an altitude of 7,940 meters—just 150 meters short of the summit. Considering the hazardous conditions, the team made the wise decision to turn back and safely descended on the same day at 2:45 pm.
As part of ITBP’s ongoing commitment to preserving the environment under its “Clean Himalaya – Save Glacier” initiative, the expedition team collected 150 kilograms of non-biodegradable waste from high-altitude camps during the climb.
With the successful Makalu ascent, ITBP has now scaled six of the world’s 14 mountains that stand above 8,000 meters. The Force has conquered a total of 229 peaks, including Mt. Everest (summited five times), Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Dhaulagiri, and Mt. Manaslu. This twin expedition not only highlights ITBP’s mountaineering prowess but also underscores its values of bravery, discipline, and environmental stewardship in some of the world’s most extreme terrains.
