Tricolour at 6,759 Metres: ITBP’s Himalayan Mission Ends in Triumph

What began as a demanding Himalayan expedition has ended with the Tricolour flying high above one of Himachal Pradesh’s most formidable peaks.A 12-member mountaineering team of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has successfully summited Mount Reo Pargil, also known as Reo Purgyil, under the force’s ‘Parvat Sankalp-2026’ expedition. Standing at around 6,759 metres (22,175 feet), the peak is located in the Shipki La sub-sector of Kinnaur district. It is the highest peak in Himachal pradesh.Led by Deputy Commandant Vinod Kumar, the expedition was flagged off from the ITBP Regional Headquarters in Shimla by Inspector General Manu Maharaj, Northern Sector, Dehradun.Battling the HimalayasThe climb was far from easy. The team had to negotiate low oxygen levels, unpredictable weather, snow-covered stretches, steep rocky terrain and difficult mountain paths. At such heights, every step demands physical endurance and mental strength. The mountaineers relied on careful coordination, discipline and teamwork as they pushed towards the summit.The expedition was not simply an adventure challenge. For the ITBP, which has personnel serving in some of the country's most demanding high-altitude border areas, such missions also provide valuable experience in operating across glaciers, snowbound terrain and low-oxygen environments.The Tricolour Reaches the SummitOn September 17, 2026, the arduous climb reached its defining moment. The ITBP team successfully stood atop Mount Reo Purgyil, with the Tricolour hoisted at the summit. The achievement marked the successful culmination of the expedition and highlighted the courage, endurance and teamwork of the participating Himveers.The force has a long-standing tradition of Himalayan mountaineering expeditions, using such missions to strengthen high-altitude capabilities while encouraging adventure and mountaineering within its ranks.For the 12 climbers, however, the summit was more than a destination. It was the final point of a journey through some of the Himalayas' toughest conditions—and a powerful reminder that determination, discipline and teamwork can carry people to extraordinary heights.