03 June,2009 02:34 PM IST | | PTI
A rousing welcome was accorded to Krishna Patil, the 19-year-old girl who made history by becoming the first woman mountaineer from Maharashtra to scale the peak of Everest on May 21.
Krishna, who arrived here last night, was taken to her home in Aundh area in a procession by her admirers and activists of various social and political organisations.
Talking to reporters, Krishna, who was part of a ten-member team comprising foreign nationals, said,"self confidence and moral support" from her well wishers kept her spirits high during the arduous climb that began at night from the base camp in April.
"As I started the climb, images of my people and neighbourhood flashed before me. Initially, I was lagging behind the group almost for seven days.
But later I summoned courage and caught up with the rest," she said radiating a steely frame of mind that put her on the top.
And her eco-friendly orientation too became evident when she stated with equal pride that the group was able to download five tonne of garbage from the peak which is a mission for every Everest expedition aiming to keep the peak clean.
In a gesture, the Saraswat Co-operative bank has waived a loan of Rs 30 lakh advanced to Krishna's family to finance her Everest expedition after she conquered the peak.
Krishna yesterday also called on Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray in Mumbai before she reached Pune.
Earlier, a cheque of Rs 11 lakh was handed over to her mother by Shiv Sena, Pune, for her training at Nehru Institute of Mountaineering at Uttar Kashi.
