How Did Major Kavitha Vasupalli Achieve Her Historic Feat?

Amaravati, July 28 (NationPress) The Governor of Andhra Pradesh, S. Abdul Nazeer, recently honored Major Kavitha Vasupalli, a medical officer in the Army, who has made history as the only female participant in a world-record Brahmaputra river rafting expedition.

The team covered an impressive 1,040 km in just 28 days, journeying from Gelling village near the Indo-Tibetan border to Hatsingimari, close to the India-Bangladesh border.

She met the Governor following her remarkable accomplishment in the fields of adventure sports and service.

Originating from Metturu village in the remote Srikakulam district, Major Kavitha exemplifies how courage, discipline, and aspirations can flourish even in the tranquil corners of rural India.

The expedition was spearheaded by Col Ranveer Singh Jamwal, the Director of NIMAS, who is also a Tenzing Norgay Awardee and the first Indian to scale all the highest peaks of India, in addition to summiting Mount Everest three times.

"The Brahmaputra was magnificent — but it was also merciless. One day, a massive wave struck us with such power that our raft capsized. In those few seconds, we were completely submerged, uncertain if we would emerge alive. But we remained calm. We relied on our training. We held onto each other. And we survived. That moment illustrated the thin line between life and death — and how potent courage and composure can be," Major Kavitha recounted.

“We often hear spiritual or geographical tales about the Brahmaputra, but this is the first time I’ve encountered an adventurous narrative of struggle and valor on its waters. Major Kavitha’s story is one of pure determination and resilience. She has instilled pride in Andhra Pradesh and every Indian who takes pride in its Armed Forces,” remarked the Governor.

The Governor extended his heartfelt wishes and encouraged her to continue being an inspiration for others.

Hailing from a humble background — her father a Railway clerk and her mother a homemaker — Kavitha was educated in government schools and earned her MBBS from Srikakulam Medical College. She joined the Indian Army as a doctor in 2021, motivated to support her family and serve the nation.

In just four years, she has emerged not only as a devoted medical officer but also as a courageous figure of adventure and leadership. She demonstrated unparalleled bravery at high altitudes, notably rescuing a fellow climber who lost consciousness at 5,900 meters during a mountaineering expedition to Mount Gorichen.

Kavitha, who has cherished swimming since childhood, smiled and said, “I’m just a girl from a small village in Srikakulam. If I could reach this point — so can anyone.”