Priyanka Gandhi felicitates Wayanad's Zuhara Cherukappalli on Everest summit
Synopsis
Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra personally felicitated mountaineer Zuhara Cherukappalli — one of the few women from Kerala to summit Mount Everest — during a two-day constituency visit on 28 June. The meeting underscored both a personal milestone for Zuhara and Priyanka's effort to spotlight women achievers from her constituency.
Key Takeaways
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra felicitated Wayanad mountaineer Zuhara Cherukappalli on 28 June 2025 for scaling Mount Everest .
Zuhara is among the few women from Kerala to have conquered the world's highest peak.
Priyanka described the feat as a proud moment for Wayanad and Kerala and an inspiration for young women across India.
The felicitation was part of Priyanka's two-day visit to her Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, which also included infrastructure inaugurations and public meetings.
Priyanka was elected from Wayanad in the 2024 by-election and has maintained regular visits to the constituency since.
Congress General Secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday, 28 June felicitated local mountaineer Zuhara Cherukappalli for scaling Mount Everest, calling the feat a shining example of determination and courage that would inspire women across India. The meeting took place during Priyanka's two-day visit to her Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency.
The Felicitation
Priyanka warmly congratulated Zuhara on becoming one of the few women from Kerala to conquer the world's highest peak. She praised the young mountaineer for overcoming immense physical and mental challenges, saying her success reflected the spirit of resilience and hard work. Priyanka also interacted with Zuhara's family and extended her best wishes for future endeavours.
The Congress leader described Zuhara's achievement as not merely a personal milestone but a proud moment for Wayanad and Kerala as a whole. She noted that such accomplishments motivate young people — particularly girls — to pursue ambitious goals with confidence.
Constituency Visit: Key Activities
The felicitation formed part of a broader two-day constituency programme. Over the visit, Priyanka inaugurated public infrastructure projects, attended meetings with local residents and party workers, and reviewed development and public welfare issues across the district. She also interacted with people from different sections of society, listening to their concerns and assuring them their issues would be raised at appropriate forums.
Priyanka's Engagement with Wayanad
Since winning the Wayanad seat in the 2024 by-election, Priyanka Gandhi has maintained regular engagement with the constituency, frequently visiting the region to review developmental works and meet residents. The meeting with Zuhara added a celebratory note to an otherwise policy-focused visit, with Priyanka reiterating that achievements in adventure and sports deserve recognition and encouragement.
What This Means for Women in Sports
Priyanka expressed hope that Zuhara's journey to the summit of Mount Everest would encourage more young women to dream big, break barriers, and strive for excellence. This comes amid a broader national conversation about increasing women's participation in adventure sports and outdoor pursuits, where representation from states like Kerala remains limited.
Point of View
But the political subtext is clear: a first-term MP elected in a by-election needs visible, human-interest wins to consolidate ground. What mainstream coverage underplays is that Kerala's women mountaineers remain a tiny cohort despite the state's high literacy and gender indices — Zuhara's success raises a legitimate question about institutional support for adventure sports in the state, one that neither the Centre nor the Kerala government has squarely addressed.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Zuhara Cherukappalli?
Zuhara Cherukappalli is a mountaineer from Wayanad, Kerala, who scaled Mount Everest, making her one of the few women from the state to summit the world's highest peak. She was felicitated by Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on 28 June 2025.
Why did Priyanka Gandhi visit Wayanad on 28 June?
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra undertook a two-day visit to her Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency on 28 June 2025, during which she inaugurated infrastructure projects, met residents and party workers, reviewed development issues, and felicitated mountaineer Zuhara Cherukappalli.
What did Priyanka Gandhi say about Zuhara's Everest climb?
Priyanka described Zuhara's achievement as a shining example of determination, courage, and perseverance, and said it was a proud moment for Wayanad and Kerala. She expressed hope it would inspire young women across India to dream big and break barriers.
When was Priyanka Gandhi elected from Wayanad?
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was elected as the Member of Parliament from Wayanad in the 2024 by-election. She has since maintained regular engagement with the constituency through frequent visits.
Why does Zuhara Cherukappalli's Everest summit matter for Kerala?
Zuhara is among a very small number of women from Kerala to have climbed Mount Everest, making her achievement notable in a state where women's adventure sports participation remains limited despite high literacy and gender development indices.
