A near-fatal fall while climbing Mount Everest in 2013 inspired mountaineer Hemant Sachdev to establish Tiranga Mountain Rescue (TMR), an organisation dedicated to protecting soldiers serving in India’s challenging high-altitude regions. Founded in 2016, following a deadly avalanche in Siachen that buried 10 soldiers, TMR now operates 16 specialised rescue teams across regions including Siachen, Kargil, Tawang and Gurez.
According to the organisation, its teams have helped save approximately 400 soldiers and trained more than 20,000 Army personnel in avalanche awareness, mountain survival and emergency response. Its preventive work, rescue operations and collaboration with the Indian Army have reportedly helped bring avalanche-related casualties in the regions it covers from 38 in 2017 to virtually zero in 2023–24.
From Everest Survivor To Rescue Mission
Sachdev’s journey began with a frightening experience during his Mount Everest expedition in May 2013. While crossing the Khumbu Icefall with three fellow climbers, the rope he was holding snapped, causing him to fall into a crevasse. A second rope prevented him from falling deeper, while an experienced fellow climber rescued him. Sachdev eventually reached Everest’s summit on May 19, 2013. The experience made him realise how essential trained rescuers and specialised equipment were in dangerous mountain environments.
His personal experience acquired a larger purpose in January 2016, when an avalanche in Siachen buried 10 Indian soldiers. Nine were found dead, while the tenth died two days after being rescued. The tragedy prompted Sachdev to explore whether professional civilian mountaineers could support soldiers during mountain emergencies.
“We do it out of passion. They do it out of duty, and are still left to face these circumstances,” Sachdev said, highlighting the difference between professional mountaineering support and the challenges faced by soldiers.
He subsequently approached the Army leadership with a proposal to establish a specialised mountain rescue system. After preparing a blueprint, he founded Tiranga Mountain Rescue in 2016, initially with three teams and 15 members.
Building India’s Mountain Rescue Network
Today, TMR operates 16 specialised teams across challenging mountain regions, including Siachen, Kargil, Tawang and Gurez. According to The Times of India, the organisation has 48 full-time professional rescuers, including experienced mountaineers, former High Altitude Warfare School instructors, ex-servicemen and civilian rescue professionals.
Its responsibilities extend beyond emergency operations. Teams assess more than 200 military posts annually, studying routes, weather conditions and geographical risks. TMR has also trained over 20,000 Army personnel in avalanche awareness, mountain survival and emergency response.
The organisation uses specialised equipment, including avalanche beacons, probes, shovels and snow-detection technology. According to TMR, its teams can mobilise within five minutes of receiving a distress call.
Its work has also produced encouraging results. The Better India reported that avalanche-related casualties in the regions covered by TMR declined from 38 in 2017 to virtually zero in 2023–24, according to the organisation. TMR’s association with the Army was further formalised through an agreement with Army Headquarters in September 2024.
Rescue Operations Beyond Military Posts
TMR’s capabilities have been tested through several challenging operations. In 2022, seven soldiers went missing following an avalanche near Tawang. After Army teams searched for nearly 48–50 hours, a three-member TMR team located all seven within four hours of beginning its assessment. Unfortunately, none survived.
In another operation in Kashmir, three soldiers were buried in an avalanche. Despite worsening weather and darkness, TMR rescuers continued searching and located all three within an hour. Two were found alive.
Beyond military rescue missions, the organisation has supported disaster response operations during the Uttarakhand glacier burst in 2021, the Manipur Tupul landslide in 2022, the Sikkim glacial lake outburst floods in 2023 and the Wayanad landslides in 2024.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Hemant Sachdev’s journey demonstrates how personal experiences can inspire meaningful social change. Soldiers serving in high-altitude regions face dangers that extend beyond combat, making specialised rescue infrastructure, preventive training and emergency preparedness essential. TMR’s work highlights the importance of collaboration between civilian experts and the armed forces in protecting human lives.
At The Logical Indian, we believe that safeguarding those who serve the country should be a shared responsibility. Sachdev’s initiative reminds us that compassion becomes meaningful when translated into action.
How can more organisations and citizens contribute towards making India’s challenging mountain regions safer for soldiers and civilians?
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