Kalahandi: Kalahandi girl Sobha Sahu has scripted an inspiring feat by scaling the 6,111-metre-high Mount Yunam in Himachal Pradesh and hoisting the national flag on the occasion of Independence Day, overcoming health challenges and a shortage of oxygen during the expedition.
Speaking to a regional television channel, Sahu said the journey to the summit was far from easy, as she battled severe headaches, vomiting and breathing difficulties at the high altitude.
“The journey was a little tough. I also faced health issues. On the day we were to summit, I vomited a lot. I came out of the tent with great difficulty and had a severe headache. I was unable to walk,” Sahu said.
She said she recovered after taking medicines and resting before resuming the climb. However, the challenges continued as the team encountered a shortage of oxygen at an altitude of 6,111 metres, or around 20,100 feet.
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“Since childhood, I have had a dream of doing something unique as a girl. I wanted to prove wrong the belief in society that many things can only be done by boys. That inspired me to take up this challenge,” she said.
Sahu also urged young people, particularly girls, to believe in themselves and pursue their ambitions.
“We girls are not born only to cook. We should do something new. There are many things that people think only boys can do, and we should prove them wrong,” she said.
She further stressed the importance of trust between parents and daughters, saying that the confidence and support of families can help girls pursue challenging goals independently.
After reaching the summit, Sahu shared photographs from Mount Yunam on Instagram and wrote, “Finally, I reached the top of Mount Yunam (6,111 metres) and celebrated Independence Day. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.”
Her achievement has brought pride to Kalahandi, with her determination and courage drawing appreciation from across the state.
Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar congratulated Sahu on her achievement.
“With the blessings of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath and Maa Manikeswari, I wish that Sobha continues to scale many more new heights and achieve greater success in the days to come,” he said.
Sahu’s Mount Yunam feat is being seen as an inspiration for young people, particularly women and girls in Odisha, to break conventional barriers and pursue their dreams in fields traditionally considered challenging or male-dominated.
By Soumya Prakash Pradhan
