The visually impaired tell tale about experiencing adventurous sports

A teenager from Maharashtras Panvel township has exemplified the fact that strong will power can help to surmount natures aberrations.

Eighteen-year-old Pawan Bundela, a visually impaired student, crossed a 600-feet long valley using a ropeway recently, creating a history of sorts.

Bundela, with a penchant for adventure sports since his childhood, has dabbled in rappling, trekking, river crossing and other adrenaline-pumping activities.

He, however, had to put in a lot of effort to accomplish this rare feat.

I am experienced in rappling. Once I did rappling for 350 feet. It wasnt easy but a different and nice experience. Just last week, I practised for the valley crossing which I accomplished today. It was a good experience and I became very much confident after that, said Bundela.

The rope was tied 23,000 feet above the sea level. Bundela crossed the massive valley, which lies between the famous Prabhal and Kalavantin peaks, within a few minutes.

The gritty youth was introduced to the world of adventure sports by his father, a professional trekker.

Since I am myself a trekker, I think he should also learn the nitty-gritties of adventure sports even though he is visually impaired. He should know everything and have the courage of indulging in adventure activities, said Lalit Bundela, Pawans father.

Lalit Bundela claims that his son has achieved a rare success and no blind person ever attempted to indulge in valley crossing, let alone crossing a 600-feet-long valley.

India is a country of more than a billion people where millions of disabled live on the fringes of society, struggling to make a living.

Critics say the government still grappling with massive poverty and trying to provide basic needs such as clean water and education to the populace cannot chart proper rehabilitation programmes for its differently abled sections.

According to Blind Foundation in India, there are more than 13 million people in India are visually impaired, constituting one-third of the worlds blind population.