 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Aug 26: In a grand felicitation ceremony organized by the Mountaineering Association of J&K in collaboration with Tawi Trekkers J&K, a team of mountaineers who recently scaled the formidable UT Kangri peak (6070m) in Ladakh was honored. The event took place at the Press Club of Jammu, with the climbers being recognized for their remarkable achievement.
The four mountaineers, Sumit Khajuria (team leader), Shashi Kant Sharma, Sourav Deep Singh, and Mallikarjun Singh, were awarded a memento, a sacred chunni, and a fruit plant by the Chief Guest, Anil Goswami, former Home Secretary of J&K. The Presiding Guest, Ashwani Sharma, a former MLA, and the Guests of Honour, Rahul Sharma, patron of Tawi Trekkers J&K, and Parveen Sharma, Chairman of The Citizen's Co-operative Bank, Jammu, were also present to congratulate the climbers.
In addition to the mountaineers, several educational institutions that actively participated in the Dharamshalla Himalayan Trekking Programme were also honored. These institutions included Aryan Oriental Convent Higher Secondary School, Udhampur; St. Xavier Senior Secondary School, Jammu; Govt. College for Women, Parade, Jammu; and The Shri Ram Universal School, Jakh. Other individuals recognized for promoting 1-day treks included Vivek Chauhan, Principal of Oriental Academy Sr. Secondary School, Jammu; Sushil Singh; Shashi Kant; Shilpa Charak; Binder Pal Singh; Navneet Gupta; Seema Kharyal; Sanjeev Sharma; Anu Sharma; Aakash Sharma; Ajay Thappa; and Eshani Singh.
Anil Goswami and Ashwani Sharma lauded the climbers' passion, skill, and endurance in reaching the 6070m summit. They praised the efforts of the Mountaineering Association of J&K and Tawi Trekkers J&K in promoting adventure sports in the region, highlighting their role in producing Everest climbers and international sport climbers. Both dignitaries also expressed their appreciation for the J&K Sports Council's sponsorship of the expedition and encouraged continued support for future mountaineering endeavors.
In her welcome address, Arti Sharma, Senior Vice President of Tawi Trekkers J&K, highlighted the achievements of Jammu's mountaineers, noting that eleven have scaled Mount Everest, including Col. Ranvir Singh Jamwal, who has summited Everest three times and conquered the highest peaks on all continents. She also announced that one of their members is set to participate in an expedition to Ama Dablam (6812m) in the Everest region this October. The organization is also planning 1-day treks for about 2000 students and the Dharamshalla Heritage Trekking Programme, scheduled to begin in the first week of October.
The event was graced by special guests Verinder Slathia, a former Special Secretary, and Prof. C.K. Khajuria, Principal of Govt. Degree College, Purmandal. Other notable attendees included Ram Khajuria, Senior Vice President of Mountaineering Association of J&K, and Rakesh Goswami, President of District Mountaineering Association, Jammu, along with senior members of the Association and Tawi Trekkers.
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