Against All Odds: Four J&K Climbers Scale UT Kangri, Celebrate with National Flag

Jammu, 12-08-2024 : Four climbers of the Mountaineering Association of J&K led by Sumit Khajuria successfully summitted UT Kangri peak (6070m) in Ladakh on 11th August, 2024. The other summiteers were  Shashi Kant, Mallikarjun Singh and Sourav Deep Singh. The fifth member of the team Sonam Sidharth could not attempt the peak because of a twisted ankle.

Earlier, the team was flagged off from Jammu for Leh jointly by former Home Secretary of India Anil Goswami and former MLA Ashwani Sharma on 1st August, 2024. After proper acclimatisation at Leh through height gaining treks for five days the team headed to the targeted mountain. Since the team was ideally  acclimatised and fighting fit it headed straight to the Base camp (5320 m) on the first day.The next day was planned as a rest day  but viewing the excellent weather condition for climbing the next morning and their own physical fitness and high spirits  the team decided to have a go on the peak. The team along with two sherpa guides, fully equipped with mountaineering gear embarked upon the final destination from the base camp at about 10 AM and instead of snow climbing preferred the scree slope which though very tiring was  safer. Finally after a grueling climb of about  six hours  the team unfurled the National Flag and the flags of J&K Sports Council and Mountaineering Association of J&K on the peak  at about 4pm. After enjoying the scenery around for about half an hour on the peak the team returned to the base camp for a well deserved rest.

The next day the team descended to Rumtse village where from they boarded a taxi and reached Leh. 

Meanwhile, members of Mountaineering Association of J&K headed by its President Zorawar Singh Jamwal and General Secretary Shawetica Khajuria have congratulated the team for the grand success of the expedition. The team shall be suitably honoured in a function to be organised in a couple of days, they announced.