Thrown out of a moving train in 2011 by goons, national-level volleyball player, Sinha, overcomes hardships to become first female amputee to climb world's highest peak -- Mount Everest
A national-level volleyball player, Arunima Sinha was thrown off a moving train by a bunch of goons in 2011. Overcoming unbearable pain as she lay on the tracks through the night, she lost one of her legs and had a metal rod inserted in the other.
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While most people take four to five years just to walk on a prosthetic limb, Arunima stood on top of Mount Everest just two years after the incident, becoming the first female amputee to climb the world's highest peak.
Arunima Sinha Pic /AFP
Arunima's is not just a story of conquering the world's highest peak but one of her undying spirit – of rising from hopelessness to conquer insurmountable odds and turning her handicap into her biggest strength.
The accident
"I met with an accident in 2011 when I was travelling in the general compartment of a train from Lucknow to Delhi. Some goons tried to snatch the gold chain I was wearing and when I resisted, they threw me off the train in Bareilly district," Arunima, now 29, told during an interview.
She collided with a passing train on the adjoining track before falling to the ground. While she doesn't remember what happened immediately afterwards. When she came to her senses she felt unbearable pain and realised that one of her legs had been crushed while the other was also severely injured.
"I shouted for help with all my might, but there was no one around who could help me. There were rats eating my injured leg as I counted 49 trains passing by me during the night," Arunima said.
It was in the morning that some villagers found her and took her to a nearby hospital where they had to amputate one of her legs while a rod was inserted in the other.
She was later shifted to premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi where she spent close to four months. It was there that she resolved she would climb Everest.
"When I got a little better, I came to know there were some rumours floating around in the media that I did not have a ticket and that's why I jumped off the train. When this was proved wrong, some people said I jumped off to commit suicide," she said.
While the whole world doubted her, Arunima's family, especially her brother-in-law Om Prakash, supported her. Om Prakash, 42, quit his job in the Central Reserve Police Force after the accident and motivated Arunima her towards her goals.
"I stood by her side every day and every moment from the railway track to the Everest because I believed in her. I even trained with her and travelled to Everest base camp along with her," Om Prakash said.
While people take years to be able to walk on a prosthetic leg, Arunima did it in four months. And in just over two years, she trained under the guidance of Bachendri Pal (the first Indian woman to climb Everest), got sponsorship for climbing the summit, started her journey to the top and conquered it.
Journey so far
In her journey, she has so far conquered Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mount Kosciuszko (Australia), Mount Aconcagua (South America), Carstensz Pyramid (Indonesia) and Mount Elbrus (Europe), apart from Mount Everest.
To encourage and inspire others like her, Arunima wants to set up an international sports academy for the differently abled. "I have already bought the land for it in Unnao near Kanpur. The building needs to be constructed – which will cost R55 crore. But it is not a bigger challenge than climbing Everest with one leg," she added.
Arunima has also adopted 120 differently-abled children in Lucknow and supports them in every possible way.
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