ITBP launches a 20 days' cycling expedition in Sikkim

The 11th Battalion Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on Sunday launched a cycling expedition from its Pegong base in Sikkim to border villages of the state. Samdup Lepcha, Minister of Culture, Road and Bridges Department, Sikkim flagged off the team. Total 218 Kilometers will be covered by the ITBP team in the course of 20 days in difficult terrains. Minister  Lepcha praised the role of ITBP in border guarding and other contributions the force makes in the state. 

The team will generate more awareness among masses of the border villages on Covid 19 related issues, will organize medical and veterinary camps, distribute hygiene and sanitation items etc and also spread awareness about various government missions for the welfare of the society at large. It will also spread awareness about recruitment in ITBP..The 18 member team of ITBP will cover difficult terrain in the expedition. Most of the members are highly trained mountaineers and rescuers. The expedition will reach to Gurudongmar lake in extreme high altitude as its destination before starting the return journey.

Raised in 1962, the ITBP is primarily a mountain force known for being deployed in harsh Himalayan borders of China since its inception. With more than 215 successful mountaineering expeditions undertaken till now, the force will complete 58 years of its raising on 24 October, 2020.