Reaching New Heights! Hyderabad's 7-year-old scales Mt Kilimanjaro

Hyderabad, Mar 16: Reaching new heights literally, Hyderabad’s Virat Chandra Telukunta, a seven-year-old boy, became one of the youngest people to summit Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. After rigorous training for 75 days in the city, Virat reached the peak of the African mountain along with his coach Bharath Thammineni.

 

 

Virat's coach Bharath speaking to a news agency said that Virat had that passion in him. Unlike other people who quit midway through the training.

 

 

His inspiration for mounatineering came after the 7-year-old says listened to the inspiring stories of the experiences of his cousins. "I talked to my cousins about their experience of climbing mountains. At that moment I also wanted to climb like them. I had a discussion with my parents about my interest, they approached Bharath sir, my coach, who trained me," says Virat.

 

 

Virat's mother says that he was excited at listening to his cousins and wanted to do something similar. "Virat had a video call with his cousins once when they had gone to Rudugaira Mountains in Uttarakhand for a trekking trip. He was fascinated When Virat saw the place in the video call, he became fascinated. Even he wanted to try something like that, says Virat's mother.

 

Detailing Virat's training, his coach says: "Virat took the training seriously and completed all the tasks including running and mock climbing with utmost dedication. The journey started on March 5, we were 100 per cent ready as he still a child and we could not take risks with him.

 

Talking about his experience, Virat, a Class II student at Gitanjali Devshala, Secunderabad, says: "On March 5, I had to bid adieu to my parents at Horombo Huts, and Bharath sir and I left for Kibu at 9 am. It was an elevation of 4,720 metres. This journey was very challenging. We faced a very harsh climate. After reaching there, we had early dinner and slept. We started at 3.40 am the next morning for the Uhuru peak, which is the highest point in Africa."

 

 

Witnessing heavy fog and breeze, Virat said he was a bit scared. "The visibility was very less. I was frightened because it was still dark and whistling winds with snow downpour. With support from our guides, we could make it to the summit. It took almost eight hours to reach the summit. I am happy to accomplish the mission I thought of."