Bargarh: A 29-year-old mountaineer from Bargarh district, Ashirbad Mahapatra, has etched his name in history by scaling Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro.
Son of a farmer of Kulita Tukura village in Attabira block, he unfurled the Tricolour and the flag of Maa Samaleswari after reaching the 5,895-metre summit.
Ashirbad began his African expedition on August 2, joining an international team of climbers representing the United Kingdom, United States, Iran, Brazil, Germany, Australia, the Philippines, Canada, Argentina, England, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Japan, China, and Dubai.
He was the only Indian in the group of climbers from 14 countries.
Trained at Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering in Pahalgam, Kashmir, Ashirbad developed skills in skydiving, paragliding, skiing, CPR, search and rescue, shooting, and high-altitude survival during his NCC days. His previous climbs include Tatakoti (4,760 m), Harmukh (5,300 m), Trishul (7,120 m), Neelkanth (6,596 m), Sunset (4,745 m), Gol Top (4,420 m), and Sleeping Lady Mountain (2,240 m).
Each successful climb has added to his reputation as a determined and resilient mountaineer.
Expressing his joy after reaching Kilimanjaro’s summit, Ashirbad extended heartfelt gratitude to Bargarh MP Pradip Purohit for his encouragement and consistent support. “Mountaineering was my childhood dream, and today, I am living it,” he said.
The young adventurer has now set his sights on Mount Elbrus in Russia, Europe’s tallest peak at 5,642 metres.
