Vadodara (Gujarat) [India], November 18 (ANI): Sanjeev Gokhle, a resident of Vadodara who is visually impaired, recently climbed Mount Friendship at an altitude of 17,346 feet above the sea level in the range of Lesser Himalayas - Pir Panjal.

The 43-year-old says that he is passionate about maintaining and nature, works in the Department of Post as a postal assistant.

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"I with my friend Pushpak climbed a peak called Friendship peak in the Himalayas. It was a five-day expedition started which we started from Solang....It was a tough terrain but I enjoyed it a lot. The Himalayas have a different aura. In Gujarat I used to trek for 4-5 hours whereas in the Himalayas we had to trek for 8 hours," said Gokhle.

He further said, "When I am climbing a mountain and if it's an uphill, I hold a string which is attached to the bag of a person climbing ahead of me. If it's downhill, I keep my hand on the shoulder of the person ahead of me."

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Gokhle was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive vision disorder, in 2001. "Gradually I am losing my vision. I was diagnosed in 2001. Medically, I am 100 per cent blind, he said.

Gokhle said that he has been associated with adventure expeditions and nature for the last 25 years.

"Before I lost the vision, I have done rescue operation of crocodiles, reptiles, snakes and mammals. I have been part of various different censuses that are conducted by the forest department. I have been involved as research personnel in various nature awareness camps of the department," he added.

"I am visual handicapped but I passionately pursue my passion. I never took vision loss as a disability and kept moving on in life. I kept on enjoying nature," said Gokhle. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)