Family members surround the body of Nasim Akhtar at her residence. Picture by UB Photos

Guwahati, Nov. 22: Nasim Akhtar, the first woman mountaineer from Assam, breathed her last today.

The 55-year-old lady, whose life was a saga of a journey revolving around mountains, passed away on her way to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital on GS Road after she complained of continuous vomiting and stomach ache at 1.30pm today.

Nagma Akhtar, 20, niece of the deceased, told The Telegraph that pehi (aunty) was not well since Sunday night and was admitted to Dispur Polyclinic yesterday morning.

She said Akhtar was released from the hospital yesterday and doctors prescribed medicines and advised rest.

“Pehi was having lunch around 12.30pm today and she suddenly started vomiting. She also complained of stomach ache. Her condition deteriorated fast and we immediately took her to GMCH. She breathed her last near Bora Service petrol pump on GS Road,” Nagma said.

Akhtar’s relationship with mountains began in 1972 when she was only 16.

Her first foray into mountaineering was at a trekking camp in Sandakphu, Darjeeling.

Pranoy Bordoloi, adventure sportsman, said the very first glimpse of the mountains had a mystic effect on Nasim baideo and after that she successfully scaled one peak after another, setting records.

Akhtar was part of the All-Assam Ladies Expedition in 1986 to Kangyisay in the Ladakh Himalayas, scaling a height of 21,132 feet.

Bordoloi said the expedition holds the record of being the first Indian women’s team on the Ladakh Himalayas and the world’s first all-woman team to reach the Kangyisay peak.

“Her last dream was to conquer Mount Everest and of late, she was deeply involved in organising the NE Everest Expedition 2012,” Bordoloi said.

Akhtar was a governing council member of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) and was the first and only representative from Assam at the foundation.

Nasim was a true child of the mountains.

In an interview with The Telegraph in 2004, Akhtar said she had deep veneration for the Himalayas and considered it like a fatherly figure.

“Mountains are like teachers. They teach you not only physical endurance but also increase ones mental strength beyond imagination, In the pursuit of adventure, I got no time for marriage. Moreover, society at that time was not very welcoming towards someone who is into adventure sport,” Akhtar said.

She used to reside with her nieces at her Barthakur Mill house in Guwahati.

Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest, was at a loss for words when told that Akhtar had passed away: “Oh my god! I have no words to express my feelings. I used to meet her often in meetings. I had even come to Guwahati at her behest. It is such a tragedy,” she said.

“Akhtar was very dedicated and very involved. I thought you had called to ask me about some expedition she was on. Not this. I don’t know what to say. Akhtar was so involved in promoting mountaineering,” she added.

The president of the IMF, Col H.S. Chauhan, said apart from the being the first lady mountaineer from Assam, Akhtar was keenly involved in the promotion of mountaineering in Assam and the country.

He said Akhtar also helped many under-privileged and physically challenged children to indulge their dream of mountaineering.

“Akhtar was mild and meek. But when it came to mountaineering she was an active person. Her death is a great loss,” Chauhan said.

The Assam Olympic Association and the Guwahati Sports Association condoled Akhtar’s death.

The GSA also kept its flag at half-mast during the ongoing Bordoloi Trophy at Nehru Stadium.

“Her untimely death is really shocking. I have known Nasim for the past 20 years. She was a dedicated mountaineer who used to help among others downtrodden children and encourage them to take up the sport,” AOA vice-president Premadhar Sarma said.