Kathmandu, May 20 (IANS) In a bid to prove to the world that “disability was not inability”, Sudharshan Gautam, a Nepali-Canadian citizen, became the first amputee to climb Mount Everest without the help of prosthetic limbs, officials said Monday.
“We received information that Gautam, who has no hands, climbed Mount Everest,” Dipendra Paudel, an official at Nepal’s mountain department under the ministry of tourism and civil aviation, told Xinhua.
Gautam, whose age was not known, climbed the world’s highest peak to spread the message that “disability is not inability”.
Gautam lost his hands at the age of 16.
“The ‘No Hands at the Top of the World’ climb is intended to show the world that even people living with significant physical disabilities have outstanding abilities and immense capacities,” Gautam wrote on his blog.
The 8,848-metre-high mountain saw its first spring summit this year May 10. In this season, many climbers have set new records.
“Though he lacks hands, his courage and zeal led him to get the success in his life,” said Gyanendra Shrestha, a government official at the base camp.
Along with Gautam, 94 climbers – 43 foreigners and 51 Nepali citizens – climbed the peak Monday.
Till Monday, 348 people have scaled the peak this season, officials said.
As many as 670 people, including 315 foreigners, are bidding to climb the peak this year.
Last spring, there were 560 climbers, including 335 foreigners, but only 181 made it to the top.
Nepali film actor Arjun Karki and national runner Sanjya Pandey have also successfully climbed the world’s highest peak.
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