The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) mountaineering team successfully completed a high-altitude expedition to Mount Mukut, a 7,045-meter peak, on October 7, 2026. The 17-member team was flagged in by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at a grand ceremony in Dehradun on October 12, 2026, as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.
The expedition represented Phase V and the final milestone of an intensive 18-month preparatory training program aimed at preparing the team for scaling Mount Everest during the ICG's Swarnim Jayanti celebrations in 2027. The expedition commenced on September 15, 2026, with the team establishing Base Camp-I on October 1 before overcoming extreme weather conditions to reach the summit. The operational experience and lessons gained will serve as a crucial foundation for the team's final preparations for the historic Mount Everest expedition.
Chief Minister Dhami commended the team's exceptional grit and endurance, stating that the achievement exemplifies courage and national pride. Additional Director General of Indian Coast Guard, Anand Prakash Badola, also congratulated the team for its exemplary teamwork in navigating the challenging Himalayan terrain. The expedition was conducted under the expert guidance of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Darjeeling.