ITPB DIG Aparna Kumar creates history, becomes first IPS officer to climb Mount Denali in USA

Indo-Tibetan Border Police DIG Aparna Kumar has created a history by becoming the first Indian IPS officer to climb Mount Denali in the USA. Denali (also known as Mount McKinley, its former official name) is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet (6,190 m) above sea level.

Kumar, a 2002-batch officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, completed the feat in her third attempt. She is now the first civil servant and Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from India to achieve this spectacular and rare feat. Kumar has also completed her ‘Seven Summits’ challenge.

“She left India for the mission Denali on June 15 and was expected to reach Summit around July 10, but fair weather, her tenacity, unflinching spirit and unflappable mind of Aparna, made her reach the target much before. She kept marching in temperatures of minus 40 degree and high-speed icy winds blowing up to 250kmph, with minimum rest to increase her probability of reaching the summit, and not to be caught in infamous, unpredictable bad weather of Denali. She unfurled the National tricolour and the Flag of ITBP at the summit with pride and gusto,” said ITBP.

Her passion, patience, grit, determination, physical endurance, and mental toughness have taken her to the glory of ‘The Seven Summits’.

Praising Aparna for the achievement, the ITBP said, “Her success shall inspire millions of women across India, as she proved right ‘Age is Just a number; one can achieve anything and everything at any stage of life, if he/she has the Courage of Conviction, Passion, Patience and willingness to defy fatigue’.”

Earlier this year, Kumar became the first woman IPS and ITBP officer to successfully conquer the South Pole, the southernmost point on the globe situated in Antarctica.

The South Pole is the coldest and driest place on Earth. The temperature there ranges from minus 37 degrees to minus 48 degrees and hence it makes the trek arduous and challenging.