RAIPUR, India — Double-leg amputee from India Chitrasen Sahu has summited Europe’s highest mountain Mount Elbrus, which pierces the sky at an altitude of 5,642 meters (18,510.5 feet).
“On Aug. 23, at 10.54 AM CET (Central European Time), Chitrasen Sahu climbed and hoisted (the) Indian flag on one of the highest mountain peaks of Europe and Russia, i.e., Mount Elbrus,” the state government of central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, where Sahu resides, said.
He became the only Indian with a double amputee to conquer three major peaks of different continents. After conquering Mount Elbrus, he gave the message of “Mission Inclusion—To promote equality” and a “Plastic Free Nation” from the mountain.
Earlier, Sahu had set a national record by climbing and reaching the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Koziasco. Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain peak on the continent of Africa, and Mount Kosciuszko is the highest mountain peak on the Australian continent.
“Due to both legs being artificial in nature, there was a lot of difficulty in mountaineering, and it was a big challenge in itself,” said the pioneering mountaineer.
“I have taken up this challenge for myself and aim to conquer the peaks of seven continents. I have done three so far. However, mountaineering with low temperatures, wind storms, and snowfalls (striking) at a speed of 50-70 kilometers per hour (31-43 miles per hour) is not easy. It is difficult, but I keep my preparations and spirit up to achieve the aim.
“I believe that life is like a mountain. Happiness, suffering, ups, and downs are all part of life. We have to learn to move forward. If we move forward with a positive mindset and think about the solution to any problem, then the solution is definitely possible.”
Besides mountaineering, Sahu is also a wheelchair basketball player at the national level and a National Para Swimmer. He was a 21-year-old civil engineer rushing to get back on the slowly-moving train home from Bilaspur when he slipped and fell in the dangerous gap between the train and platform.
Within 24 days of the accident, both his legs had to be amputated. However, years on, after having led the state’s wheelchair basketball team, earning a driver’s license, and summiting three continental peaks, it’s almost like he never looked back.
Sahu said he has always worked for the rights of his people, so they don’t have to face systemic discrimination.
“The absence of any part of the body is not a matter of shame, nor does it come in the way of our success,” he said.
“We just need to end the hesitation inside us and come forward. We are not less than anyone, nor are we different.”
(With inputs from ANI)
Edited by Amrita Das and Krishna Kakani
The post Indian Double Amputee Mountaineer Checks Off Three Of Seven Summits appeared first on Zenger News.
