Sikkim CM flags off NDRF mountaineering expedition to Mt Jongsong

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has flagged off ‘Shikhar’, the fourth mountaineering expedition by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), to Mount Jongsong. The 7,462-metre peak is located in Sikkim near the borders of China and Nepal.

The expedition, which includes a 41-member team, is scheduled to run from September 4 to October 11. Officials stated the mission will serve as a test of the team’s mountaineering skills, physical endurance, and operational preparedness.

During the ceremony, Chief Minister Tamang commended the NDRF for its past assistance during the 2011 Sikkim earthquake and the 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) disaster. He noted the agency's ability to provide relief in remote, high-altitude areas and expressed confidence in continued cooperation between the Sikkim government and the NDRF.