First female amputee to climb Mount Everest shares her story of success through tragedy

The life of Arunima Sinha is a moving example of how resilient people can be. She was in a terrible train accident that cost her her leg, but she refused to let that define her. She broke records and gave hope to countless others who were facing seemingly impossible challenges when she became the first female amputee to climb both Mount Everest and Mount Kilimanjaro. Her relentless determination drove her to success. Her experience serves as a constant source of motivation, showing us that the human spirit is indestructible in the face of adversity.

Arunima Sinha, born on July 20, 1989, in Lucknow, encountered difficulties at an early age. Her mother worked in the health department, while her father was in the Indian Army. She lost her father at an early age. Following her enthusiasm for volleyball, she became a seven-time Indian volleyball player and aspired to join paramilitary forces.

Arunima’s desire to serve her country was realized when she received a call letter from the Central Industrial Security Force, or CISF. Her heart was full of excitement. But destiny had another harsh turn in store. A horrifying event that occurred on April 12, 2011, completely destroyed her world and changed the trajectory of her life.

Arunima refused to become a victim

According to News9, Arunima Sinha boarded the Padmavati Express train in Lucknow on April 12, 2011, and traveled to Delhi to sit for an exam to join the CISF. Arunima experienced a terrifying ordeal while traveling. Her coach was stormed by five robbers who immediately started robbing the passengers.
Arunima refused to be a helpless victim when the thieves attempted to take her possessions. She made the brave and defiant decision to fight the robbers back.

Arunima’s resistance sparked wrath among the robbers, resulting in cruel retaliation They pulled her off the moving train, leaving her alone and defenseless on the tracks; another train approached her on the parallel track, crushing her leg below the knee. She yelled for help, but nobody came to her aid.
Later, she noticed that little rats on the railway tracks were chewing on her damaged leg

Arunima passed out on the tracks while she was bleeding profusely. She was discovered by some people in the morning and rushed to the hospital. Due to the severity of her injuries, doctors had to amputate one leg below the knee. Her right leg required rods, and she sustained spinal cord fractures.
In April 2011, she was moved to AIIMS for further treatment. A Delhi-based business fitted her with a prosthetic limb. Despite being confined to a hospital bed and her goals seemingly dashed, Arunima discovered fresh determination. Inspired by cricketer Yuvraj Singh’s incredible adventure, she set her eyes on a seemingly unattainable task: ascending Mount Everest.

Revival of Arunima Sinha

After leaving the hospital, Arunima wasted no time. She reached out to Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest, and expressed her tremendous aspiration. Pal, impressed by Arunima’s will and passion, stated that she had already conquered the mountain within herself, and now it was time to show the rest of the world.

Arunima enrolled at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering and TATA Steel Adventure in Uttarkashi. In less than two years, she began her adventure to Mount Everest with Sherpa Neema Kancha. According to News9, she observed dead bodies but did not give up.
On the morning of May 21, 2013, Arunima Sinha became the first female amputee to summit Mount Everest.

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