Leh: In a moment of immense pride for Ladakh and the nation, Junior Under Officer (JUO) Abida Afrin, a cadet of 1 Ladakh Battalion NCC, has successfully summited Mount Everest as part of the NCC Mount Everest Expedition 2025. Abida, representing the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Directorate, was among the select few who scaled the world’s highest peak on May 18, 2025.
Speaking about her journey, Abida shared that her expedition began right from Leh, where she underwent a rigorous selection and training process. The trials were conducted under the leadership of Col. Amit Bisht, Sena Medal, who led the selection drive across India before finalizing cadets at the NCC Headquarters in Delhi.
“Out of more than 2050 cadets from across the country, only 36 were selected, and I was proud to be among them,” Abida said.
The shortlisted cadets were sent to Mount Abigamin (7,355 meters) for their preliminary training in survival and basic mountaineering techniques under limited resources. This phase also acted as a further selection ground, where only 16 cadets were chosen for the Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC).
Their next and most grueling training took place at the Siachen Glacier, one of the toughest terrains on Earth. Here, cadets were pushed to their physical and mental limits, and eventually, 10 cadets — 5 boys and 5 girls — were selected for the final Everest summit team.
In March 2025, the team received blessings from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at a special flag-off ceremony before departing for Nepal. After undergoing acclimatization climbs on nearby peaks and adapting to the extreme climate, the team successfully summited Mount Everest on May 18, 2025.
“This achievement isn’t mine alone,” said an emotional Abida. “It belongs to my battalion staff, my family, our CO, and everyone who motivated and believed in me.”
She credited the success to the spirit of teamwork, unity, and discipline instilled by the NCC. The expedition team was later felicitated in New Delhi by top dignitaries including the Defence Minister, Chiefs of Army, Navy, and Air Force, and had the honor of meeting the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu.
Back in Ladakh, Abida received a hero’s welcome, with the community celebrating her feat and honoring her courage.
“The love and appreciation I received from my region made me more motivated and emotional. I represented Ladakh and India with pride — and I aim to do it again, and again,” she said.
