Maiden mountaineering summit & paragliding descent at Mount Delta in Ladakh’s Zanskar region
Leh, August 17
In a landmark achievement for Indian mountaineering and adventure sports, the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering & Winter Sports (JIM & WS), Pahalgam, successfully executed a historic Mountaineering-cum-Paragliding Expedition to Mt Delta – 41(5,921 m) also known as Mt Barmal in the Tangol (Kargil) region of Ladakh.
The 13-member team, led by Col Hem Chandra Singh, Principal, JIM & WS, has etched its name in the annals of Indian adventure history.
The expedition was ceremonially flagged off by Col Hem Chandra Singh, Team Leader, on 11 Aug 2026 from JIM & WS, Sub Training Center Sonamarg.
The expedition team comprised the following of Col Hem Chandra Singh – Team Leader, Capt Anupam Singh – Medical Officer, Mahfooz Ilahi Hajam – Team Manager, Hony Capt/Sub Maj Rafiq Ahmad Malik (Retd) – Member, Manish Makholia – Member and nine other members from various parts of the country.
After undertaking a meticulously planned two-day acclimatization schedule in the Tangol Village of Kargil Ladakh region, the team established its Base Camp at Mt Nun Base Camp (Also Base Camp of Mt Delta – 41) on 13 July 2026. Despite adverse weather forecasts and limited weather window the team leader decided to divided the team in two teams and one team moved to Camp – I of Mt Nun (Summit Camp of Mt Delta – 41) on 14 Aug and summited the peak on the Independence Day 15 Aug at 1409hr. The second team Displaying exceptional grit and tactical acumen under the inspiring leadership of Col Hem Chandra Singh, moved for the summit on 16 Aug 2026 at 0300hrs from summit camp and reached on the Summit of Mt Delta 41 (5930 m) at 0610hrs
In a feat unprecedented in Indian adventure sports history, Col Hem Chandra Singh and Manish Makholia launched the historic first-ever paragliding descent from the summit of Mt Delta – 41 and landed safely at the Road Head Camp Tangol Village — completing a direct summit-to-base aerial descent. The other climbers battling extreme conditions including wind chill factor and sub-zero temperatures, successfully reached directly from the summit to road head camp.
This twin triumph — summiting a formidable 5,921m peak and pioneering a paragliding descent from its summit directly to Road Head Camp at an altitude of 3600 M, such kind of expedition, is first of its kind and stands as a testament to the unparalleled professionalism, courage, and skill fostered at JIM & WS. It marks a watershed moment for India’s high-altitude adventure capabilities and firmly places the nation on the global map of extreme mountain and aerial sports.
The successful expedition not only embodies the spirit of adventure and national pride but also reinforces India’s strategic and sporting footprint across the challenging and largely unexplored ranges of Zanaskar Ladakh. Moreover opens new vistas of adventure sports in the country especially in the field of Mountaineering and Paragliding. It successfully tests the complementarity of Mountaineering and Paragliding.
Heartfelt congratulations to the entire team for this extraordinary and historic accomplishment, which will inspire generations of mountaineers and Paragliding Pilots across the country.