Five-year old creates record by reaching Everest base camp
Braving severe avalanches and blizzards caused by the tail of cyclone Hudhud, which claimed many lives in the region, Harshit achieved his feat last Friday which was confirmed by Nepal Bharat Friendship Society.
His parents are trying to register their son's name in the Guinness World Records and Limca Book of Records.
"We will try to get Harshit Saumitra's name in Guinness Book of World Records and Limca Book of Records for becoming the youngest climber to reach the base camp of Mount Everest," his father Rajeev Saumitra is quoted by media as saying on Wednesday.
Rajeev claimed that his son, a Class 1 student of GD Goenka School in New Delhi, broke the previous record held by seven-year-old Aaryan Balaji, also an Indian, who reached the base camp in 2012.
“Harshit's pictures of reaching the base camp, video clippings and his birth certificate would be sent to the Guinness World Records and the Limca Book of Records offices. I am confident that his name will get into both the records," Rajeev added.
It has been learnt that Harshit climbed the Kalapathar peak, which is at a height of 5,550 metres. The peak is higher than the highest peaks of three continents - Mount Blanc (4,810 m) in Europe, Vison Massif (4,810 m) in Antarctica, and Punack Jaya (4,884 m) in Australia.
According to media reports, Harshit gained his passion from his father Rajeev Saumitra who himself is a mountaineer and geography teacher. Saumitra has in the past successfully scaled Mt. Everest, Russia’s “Albrus” and Africa’s highest mountain peak Kilimanjaro.
It has been learnt that Harshit started his training at an early age of 2 and a half years. After achieving this rare feat, Harshit said; “I felt very good. I unfurled the tricolor at the Everest Base Camp. I am really happy with my achievement. Now I plan to focus on my studies again before getting back to mountaineering in the summer.”
“We were worried that Harshit might experience altitude sickness. But he didn’t face any problem,” said a beaming Rajeev. Harshit’s mother said: “I am proud of my son’s achievement. This is the best Diwali gift a mother can get. I am thankful to god for keeping my son safe while granting him all the success.”
Earlier Harshit was felicitated by Prem Lashkery, President, Nepal Bharat Friendship Society, at a specially organized event in the city to celebrate Harshit’s achievement and the milestone occasion.
Harshit has reportedly told media that he plans to attempt Mount Kilimanjaro (5895 m) in Africa and Mount Everest (8848 m) in a few years. He already climbed Rohtang Pass (3930 m) before attempting Everest base camp.
Image: Creative Commons
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