Nisha Kumari, the first resident of Vadodara to scale Mount Everest in May this year, recently returned home to a rousing welcome after spending nearly four weeks at INHS Asvini in Mumbai to treat severe frostbite on her fingers. Nisha has been felicitated for her gutsy feat by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, MS University, schools in the city as well as social organisations in the last one week but the road to complete recovery is still long. Speaking to The Indian Express, Nisha, 29, who is basking in the glory of completing her dream expedition, says the frostbite condition did not "worry" her. She says, "It is my first experience with frostbite. Although it was a summer expedition, the weather conditions were winter-like and very harsh. Many on my eight-member team suffered frostbites but mine was grave as all 10 fingers were affected equally. However, when we returned to the base, the Sherpas (guides) assured me that it could be treated. I informed my family through the agency and they panicked after reading extreme descriptions on the Internet. But I never felt worried about the condition. It was May 19 and the first aid involved dipping hands in warm water mixed with anit-septic, following which, I immediately began the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)." After two sessions in Kathmandu and New Delhi, Nisha was shifted to INHS Asvini in Mumbai. "They would put me into a high-pressure chamber for the HBOT treatment. The fingers have improved a lot but it will take another five to six months for the complete recovery with natural blood flow to the extremities… The doctors have put me on aspirin for better blood flow to the ends," she says. Hailing from a military family, Nisha – a 2017 alumnus of MS University with an MSc in Industrial Mathematics – had aimed to join the Indian Air Force but could not clear the medical criteria due to a flat foot. "I began training myself physically and mentally. It involved running, cycling, workout in the gyms, balancing and staircase workouts, Tabata functional training, and once a week visit to Pavagadh for stamina and endurance training. I climbed the Pavagadh hill through the temple stairs about three times without a break, carrying 15 kg weight. I also used the Police Headquarters ground for continuous 12 hours of running practice. Since the ground is only 300 meters, I run clockwise and anti-clockwise for mental strength… Preparation also included just standing mute for hours together with weights," she says. It was in 2019 that Nisha first accomplished the Mount Friendship Peak (5,370 metres) and, thereafter, Mount Nun (7,100 metres) and Mount Satopanth (7,000 metres). In October last year, Nisha conquered the Manaslu peak (8,163 metres) and, thereafter, signed up with a Nepalese agency for the May expedition to Mount Everest. Interestingly, Nisha's team of eight had three women from Gujarat. She says, "One girl from Morbi and another from Bharuch were part of my team apart from five foreigners. We met at the base camp. They, too, suffered minor frost bites on a couple of fingers. We had Sherpas for guidance. Getting to the top of Mount Everest was an unmatched experience. I unfurled the National Flag and froze the moment in a photograph. It will always be special." Nisha credits her mother, brother, and her Vadodara coach Nilesh Barot for her success. The mountaineer is also grateful to several individuals and institutions in the city that have backed her financially in her expedition as well as the treatment. "My coach (Barot) has always supported me with the finance. The gear is expensive. The entire cost of the expedition was taken care of and also the treatment as several individual sports enthusiasts, members of the Syndicate of MS University, as well as companies under Corporate Social Responsibility came forward to support me. Going forward my aim is to conquer the Seven Summits after recovery," Nisha says.
