Senapati, Manipur — In a powerful blend of adventure and activism, 20-year-old Bhukya Yashwanth, a mountaineer from Telangana, has scaled Mount Iso (Tempu)—Manipur’s highest peak—as part of his national campaign to raise awareness about drug abuse and betting app addiction.
A B.Com student, Yashwanth is on a mission to climb the highest peaks of every Indian state under the campaign titled ‘Har Shikhar Par Tiranga’, with each summit doubling as a platform to promote a drug-free and responsible lifestyle among the youth.
In the last 10 days alone, he has conquered Mount Gorichen in Arunachal Pradesh and Betlingchhip (Thaidawr) in Tripura, with Mizoram next on his route. Reflecting on his climb of the nearly 3,000-metre Mount Iso, Yashwanth said, “The terrain was steep, and the weather was cold, but the spirit remained strong.” He credited Assam Rifles officials for their support and camaraderie during the expedition.
“I was deeply affected by the increasing number of people, especially youth, losing money to betting apps and falling into drug addiction. I decided to combine my passion for mountaineering with a social message,” Yashwanth told PTI.
Starting his mountaineering journey at just 16, Yashwanth previously summited Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa in 2021. His climbs are now dedicated tributes to the Tiranga and a call to embrace “health, purpose, and integrity over shortcuts and distractions.”
Yashwanth aims to complete his Northeast summits within the next few days, spreading his message atop every peak—and into the hearts of India’s youth.
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