As part of the Centenary Celebrations of the Military Nursing Service (MNS), an all-women team of 11 MNS officers led by Maj Rachna Hooda created history by conquering the highest peak (6,120 m) of the Yabat Tokpo Valley in Ladakh — a formidable summit that had remained untouched for centuries. In keeping with Ladakh’s tradition of reverence for the mountains, the team named the newly scaled peak “Mount Lamo”, symbolising the divine strength and resilience of Maa Kali.
The expedition team — The Arohinis — takes its name from a Sanskrit word meaning “a woman who climbs, moves upward or is in ascent”. Living up to their name, the Arohinis embodied the indomitable spirit of the MNS and the inspiring role of women in nation-building, once again proving that “Shakti ka naam hi Naari hai.”
The expedition was flagged off on 18 August 2025 by Lt Gen Sadhna M Nair, DGMS, and Maj Gen Lissamma PV, ADGMNS, marking the beginning of a remarkable new chapter in the legacy of MNS.
The Team
The Arohinis comprised Maj Rachna Hooda (Team Leader) and Capt Sonali Mohapatra (Deputy Team Leader), along with Maj Kirti Rawat, Maj Joonti J Das, Maj Swati Rai, Maj Divya N P, Capt Vaishali Harbola, Capt Laxmi, Capt Simran Raturi, Capt Sruti Kriti, and Capt Divyanshi.
The Climb: Preparation and Ascent
The team’s preparation began immediately on reaching the roadhead at Gya village in Eastern Ladakh. For about a week they underwent high-altitude acclimatisation and rigorous training, trekking 10–12 km daily in the mountains around Gya village.
On 11 September 2025, the team moved 13 km through rugged terrain to establish a Base Camp at 4,950 m, followed by an Advance Base Camp at 5,200 m the next day, adopting an Alpine style of climbing rarely used by the armed forces.
From there began the ultimate challenge — the ascent of the unclimbed 6,120 m peak in the remote Yabat Tokpo Valley, starting at 2300 hrs on 12 September 2025.
Formidable Obstacles
The unclimbed mountain threw up every conceivable obstacle: steep stouts, cols, cornices, active moraines, swampy lakes loaded with unstable boulders, treacherous crevasses, and finally a 400-m 60-degree ice wall leading to a precarious 8-km ridge with overhanging rocks and super-soft snow. Every step demanded not just mountaineering skill but iron determination and teamwork.
Summit Success
On 13 September 2025 at 1300 hrs, history was written when the Arohinis reached the virgin summit. In a moment of pride and reverence, they dedicated the peak to Maa Kaali and named it Mount Lamo.
A Symbol of Shakti in Uniform
This pioneering feat — coinciding with the centenary year of the Military Nursing Service — is not just a mountaineering triumph but a celebration of courage, endurance, and leadership. The Arohinis have redefined the boundaries of adventure and service, exemplifying the extraordinary capabilities of MNS officers and the spirit of Indian womanhood on the nation’s highest frontiers.
