The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has added a remarkable chapter to its mountaineering legacy by successfully scaling Mt. Makalu, the world’s fifth-highest peak at 8,485 meters.
This marked the first time any Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) has reached the summit of this formidable Himalayan mountain.
The ascent was part of an ambitious twin-peak international expedition targeting both Mt. Makalu and Mt. Annapurna (8,091 m), two of the world’s most challenging eight-thousanders located in Nepal. The Force was attempting both peaks for the first time, making the mission a historic first in ITBP’s mountaineering record.
A 12-member team, led by Deputy Commandants Anoop Kumar Negi and Nihas Suresh, was divided into two climbing units. The Makalu group achieved an 83% success rate, with five climbers reaching the summit. The successful team members included AC Sanjay Kumar, HC Sonam Stobdan, HC Pradeep Panwar, HC Bahadur Chand, and CT Vimal Kumar.
Meanwhile, the Annapurna team demonstrated exceptional courage under severe weather conditions. Facing a blizzard and complete whiteout, they advanced to a height of 7,940 meters—just 150 meters short of the summit—before making a safe and responsible descent.
The expedition also carried a strong environmental focus. As part of ITBP’s “Clean Himalaya – Save Glacier” campaign, the team collected 150 kilograms of non-biodegradable waste from high-altitude camps, contributing to conservation efforts in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
With the successful ascent of Mt. Makalu, ITBP has now scaled six of the world’s 14 eight-thousanders. Its previous high-altitude conquests include Mt. Everest (five times), Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Lhotse, and Mt. Manaslu. In total, the Force has summited 229 peaks to date.
This twin-peak expedition reflects ITBP’s unmatched expertise in high-altitude operations, combining discipline, endurance, and environmental stewardship in some of the world’s harshest terrains.
