Mountaineer scales 18 peaks but has no money to pay for record fee; sends SOS to Jagan

Kurnool: A 24-year-old youth from Kurnool has achieved a rare feat by becoming the only mountaineer in India to scale 7 summits and eight thousands.

But believe it or not, he does not have Rs 50,000 to pay a fee for the Guinness certificate.

Hailing from Gonegandla village, G. Suresh Babu has scaled 25 mountains in parts of the world. He officially holds Guinness World Record for scaling 18 peaks in 5 continents in four years.

“I come from a poor family, and I know how Navaratnas (Nine welfare schemes) are benefitting the families in my surroundings. Of all my expeditions, I feel very significant that I have unfurled nine posters on nine peaks representing Navaratnas (Nine welfare schemes) of Andhra Pradesh government," said Suresh.

Since his school days, Suresh has been interested in adventure and sports. “I have come to know about mountaineering during my intermediate and seriously began thinking of taking up it as a career. I had to convince my family and well-wishers since mountaineering as a career is not as common in southern India as it is in the north. Later, I went for my basic course at the National Institute of Mountaineering at Uttarkashi and advanced course from Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling," he said.

The highlight of his career has been scaling Mt. Everest.

“Scaling Mt. Everest was a very unusual one. I was 17 years old and expected that there would be manageable mountains and minimal snow. But, I was completely wrong. I also had to face hunger as the days passed. We just had Bananas and Maggie to sustain. The weather had turned to be worse for a while and a majority of climbers turned back from the balcony. Realizing my dream, I have pushed myself to overcome the hurdles," he said.

Suresh said his struggles began after finishing the advanced course at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute.

“I wanted to fulfill my dream of climbing the highest mountains in the world, but climbing all Mountains is a very costly affair. I met everyone whom I thought might help me. But to convince people who weren’t sure about my abilities in the first place was a difficult task. There were days when I couldn’t sleep or eat properly. Most of the people whom I met gave me cold responses. After having climbed Mt. Everest, I joined a degree in Silver Jubilee Govt. College, Kurnool. With the help of the faculty and alumnus, I have scaled 25 mountains located in five continents of the world," he said.

Suresh said mountaineering as a career is highly respected and rewarded in the northern part of India. “My mountaineering friends receive financial benefits and private collaborations. But things are very different in the southern part of India. Very few individuals choose it as a career, and those who don't come from a wealthy background will suffer," he said.

"I own a Guinness World Record, but I did not obtain the certificate because I don't have the financial resources to pay a nominal fee of Rs 50,000. I have been waiting to meet AP CM Jagan and trying my best to reach out to him. I am sure he will address my issue," Suresh hoped.