Thread by @LestWeForgetIN

A Legendary Soldier, Mountaineer & Saviour Col Narendra 'Bull' Kumar, #PVSM, #KirtiChakra #AVSM (Retd) passed away earlier today 31 Dec 2020 in New Delhi

#LestWeForgetIndia🇮🇳 the #IndianBrave spent his life in Himalayas; taming peaks & ensuring #SiachenGlacier remains with India

Col Narendra Kumar will be remembered for being an exceptional mountaineer and his contribution to the security of India.
A 'Mountain legend', he successfully led expedition to Nine peaks above 24,000 feet, out of 13 of the highest peak climbed by Indians.

In 1977, he and his team climbed Kanchenjunga from the North East spur, which was not done in 45 years since a German expedition in 1931, which only reached short of 3000 feet from the summit.

Colonel Kumar led three premier mountaineering institutes of the country, as Principal, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling; Principal, National Ski School, Gulmarg, and Commandant of High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS), at Gulmarg.

Prior to India's pre-emptive mobilisation of troops to Siachen Glacier in April 1984 part of #OpMeghdoot, it was Col Narendra Kumar's expedition which sounded out the Government of India of Pakistan trying to make moves around the Karakoram.

Col Kumar skied down all the passes on the Siachen Glacier, including Bila-Fondla, Saltoro Pass, Sia-La, Turkistan-La, Indira-Col and Pass Italia and led successful expeditions to Saltoro Kangri (25,400 feet) the highest in Eastern Karakoram.

#LestWeForgetIndia🇮🇳 A Legend of the Himalayas and a gallant #IndianBrave.
A grateful nation had awarded him the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, #KirtiChakra, #PadmaShri, Ati Vishist Seva Medal, Arjuna Award
He was also a recipient of the prestigious MacGregor Medal.