AP girl creates an Everest record

Malavath Purna, aged 13 years and 11 months and, Sadhanapalli Anand Kumar, aged 18 years – both studying in the AP Social Welfare Residential Schools have reached Camp 2 which is at 24,750 ft. This can be considered as a record created by Purna, the youngest female mountaineer to reach this height so far.

The duo is heading to the ‘Death Zone’ along with 47 other mountaineers from China, Germany, and Tibet. The next 48 hours trek through the Death Zone is the most dangerous one. Once they cross the Death Zone, they are sure to hoist the Indian flag on Mt. Everest summit at 29,035 ft.

The parents of the two students are confident that their children will succeed in their endeavour. Anand’s father, a worker in a cycle shop, is excited and says, “Do or die. My son will do it. I know my son’s worth and determination”.

“The duo is expected to reach the summit on May 26. They want to prove to the world that poverty is no barrier once opportunities are created,” said Dr R S Praveen Kumar, IPS, secretary of social welfare education society.