Kalahandi Girl Scales Mount Yunam, Inspires Young Women

Sobha Sahu, a young woman from Kalahandi, Odisha, has achieved a remarkable feat by scaling Mount Yunam in Himachal Pradesh, which stands at 6,111 metres (20,100 feet).

She reached the summit on Independence Day, overcoming severe health challenges such as headaches, vomiting, and breathing difficulties due to the lack of oxygen at high altitude.

Sobha’s determination was driven by her desire to break societal stereotypes that label mountaineering and extreme challenges as male‑dominated pursuits.

She emphasised that girls should pursue ambitions beyond traditional roles and encouraged young women to believe in themselves.

Her success has brought pride to Kalahandi and Odisha. Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar congratulated her, invoking blessings from Lord Jagannath and Maa Manikeswari.

Sobha’s achievement is now seen as a powerful inspiration for young women across the state to challenge barriers and pursue their dreams.