19-year-old college girl climbs Mt. Everest, shocks the entire nation
credit: X/CM@Sukhusukhvinder
Surprised? We should be!. This wonder girl did something that many people tried but failed to do. Say hello to Kritika Sharma, a 19-year-old woman and college student from Himachal Pradesh who climbed the hearts and the tallest mountain in the world, scaling over 8,000ft.
Her monumental achievement has captured nationwide attention, and she successfully scaled
Mount Everest
on May 18, 2025.
Kritika belongs to a remote village of Gattadhar, within the Sangrah subdivision of Sirmaur district. With her historic climb, she took the Indian tricolour, NCC flag and college insignia to this 8,848m summit, symbolizing her respect for her country, her commitment to her career of choice and the spirit of Indian youth, all at once.
With this achievement, she is India's first female NCC cadet to climb Mount Everest successfully and the first and youngest of Himachal Pradesh to do so. But we all know how this journey might have been challenging; we know, but Kritika experienced it. Her journey was not smooth in any way. From the moment she was chosen for the high-level NCC Everest expedition team, she went through months of intense training, both physical and mental conditioning.
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This included high-altitude trekking, technical mountaineering techniques and survival training in some of India's most challenging terrain.
How did Kritika get ready for the expedition?
Despite coming into contact with sub-zero temperatures, low oxygen levels, and unseasonal climatic conditions on Everest, Kritika's resolve and discipline never wavered. She crossed hazardous landscapes such as the Khumbu Icefall and infamous Hillary Step without incident, fighting against physical fatigue and altitude sickness.
Her success has not only given pride to Himachal Pradesh but has also inspired young girls from all over the nation to try their luck without fear.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu lauded Kritika, stating, "She has set an inspiring example for the youth of our state and the whole nation. Her courage and determination show us that no summit is too high if you have the zeal to achieve it."
Besides the Chief Minister, the directorate general of NCC also congratulated Kritika and the entire expedition team on the achievement, attributing it to their hard work and diligence, as well as to the sense of patriotism depicted by them.
Kritika's historic first-ever climb of Mount Everest is not just a personal triumph but also proof of the power of teamwork, perseverance, and collective will. She was among a specially handpicked NCC Everest expedition team of expert mountaineers and other cadets from all over India. The entire team trained hard for months under experienced trainers and senior mountaineers, who gave them technical instruction and took strict safety measures in the course of the expedition.
Kritika Sharma's story will certainly inspire individuals to confront challenges with determination and attempt unprecedented heights, proving that every dream is not too distant, provided one is passionate about making it come true.
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