In an inspiring feat of grit and determination, 22-year-old Pramod Pawde from Kuini, a small hamlet in the district of Nanded in Maharashtra scaled the state’s highest peak, Kalsubai, in just two hours and 48 minutes recently in January. What makes his achievement extraordinary is that Pawde accomplished the climb using a prosthetic leg.

Kalsubai, standing at 5,400 feet above sea level in the Sahyadri mountain range, is considered one of the most challenging and popular treks in Maharashtra. Thousands of trekking enthusiasts attempt the climb every year, navigating steep rocky patches and uneven terrain.