RAIPUR: In a tale of inspiring determination and accomplishment, Bastar girl Naina Dhakar scaled Bhagirathi-II, one of the major snowy peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand.

In doing so she became the first girl from the state to successfully climb the peak.

Completing her daring expedition of the 6512 m peak, Naina hoisted the tricolour atop the Bhagirathi-II alongside the police flag that she was given by senior police officials from Chhattisgarh before her journey.

But conquering the mighty Himalayan peak wasn’t her only coup. She also took it on her to spread the message of ‘Save Himalayas’ by cleaning up the garbage littered on Bhagirathi-II by other trekkers.

Speaking to TOI over phone from Himachal Pradesh, Naina said, “It took me over 16 days to complete the expedition. Thanks to support from state sports department secretary Sonmoni Borah and senior police officials of Bastar, I could accomplish this task.”

“So far, I have scaled some famous peaks across the country but my strongest desire is to conquer Mount Everest in 2018 and keep pushing forward,” she added.

She said that Bastar police have assured her in extending all possible support for her future expeditions.

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh youth commission member Sangram Singh Rana expressed his excitement over Naina’s feat.

“Despite coming from a tribal region like Bastar, Naina has managed to carve for herself as a mountaineer,” Rana said.

“Luckily her family was supportive of her passion in mountaineering and she cleared all the necessary procedures on the way,” he added.

Rana informed that Naina’s journey in mountaineering began in 2011 when she was selected to be part of a team led by renowned mountaineer Bachendri Pal. The 12-member all-women’s team was also listed in the Limca Book of World Records.

“Through her accomplishments of India’s most famous peaks, she has already given the world a glimpse of her rich talent,” Rana added.

