HYDERABAD:Battling all odds, including high winds, hostile climate, sub zero temperature, deep and treacherous crevices and roughly half the oxygen content in the air, a woman police officer has conquered 7,077 metres high Mount Kun in Zanskar Range of Kashmir recently. G R Radhika, working as additional superintendent of police (Admin) in Adilabad district, achieved the rare feat, on September 7 to become the first woman police officer to conquer Mount Kun.
Radhika, a lecturer-turned-police officer, had attended a special training programme on mountaineering, organised by former additional director general of police (ADGP), Rajiv Trivedi, who is now principal secretary for Home in Telangana. Mount Kun had a special place in Radhika’s mind and she had dreamt of climbing the snow-clad peak umpteen times. After much efforts Radhika tasted success in her second attempt.
“I felt on top of the world, when I reached the peak. It was a challenging task, but once I got there I felt sky is not the limit if we have the determination. I was part of an eight-member team including foreigners, that reached the top of the peak on September 7. I would like to thank all my colleagues in Telangana Police, particularly Rajiv Trivedi who facilitated me to get trained in mountaineering. It was an unforgettable moment,” said Radhika, while sharing her moments of glory and joy standing atop the peak. The Nun and Kun are the highest twin peaks in the Zanskar Range.
Now that she has conquered Mount Kun, Radhika now aspires to reach the summit of Mount Everest. “I will start preparing to climb Everest and will undergo training for the same. Mountaineering is not an easy task. Climbing Mount Kun itself was a tough task. We reached Kargil on August 23. From there, we started climbing under the guidance of an Indian Air Force officer who is an expert in mountaineering. Finally, we reached the peak at 7,077 metres Kun on September 7,” Radhika reminisced.
Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Sharma congratulated Radhika stating that the personnel of state police department have been excelling in the national sports arena and the achievement of Radhika has added glory to the state police.
The woman police officer is also a philanthropist. Adilabad SP Tarun Joshi and Radhika have adopted villages as part of Telangana government’s pet scheme Grama Jyothi. While the SP adopted Devapur in Talamadugu mandal, ASP G R Radhika adopted Ponnari in Tamsi mandal.
Principal secretary Rajiv Trivedi told Express that he had recommended Radhika for the basic mountaineering course at Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports, Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir last year when he was additional DGP, Sports.
After the course, Radhika went on a week-long expedition to Golep Kangri peak to test her skills and successfully scaled the peak, which is 5,980 metres high. “If Radhika thinks she is equipped, she must scale Mount Everest,” Trivedi opined.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), TSSP, who is in-charge of Sports, V V Srinivasa Rao said that the police department would provide equipment for trekking to Radhika who currently hires the equipment by spending Rs 30,000 to 40,000 for few days.
Extending financial help to Radhika, the police department would sanction special causal leave to the police officer for her mountaineering venture.