Two Indian Climbers Die While Descending Mount Everest
KATHMANDU, Nepal — Two Indian mountaineers died while descending Mount Everest after reaching the summit, a senior official with Nepal’s Department of Tourism said Friday.
Himal Gautam, director of the Department of Tourism, said Arun Kumar Tiwari and Sandeep Are died during their descent from the world’s tallest mountain, according to reports received from Everest Base Camp.
“The exact cause of their deaths is not yet known,” Gautam said.
Both climbers reached the summit on May 21 and became ill while descending, according to local media reports.
Tiwari died near the Hillary Step, just below the summit, while being assisted by four Sherpa climbers, Nivesh Karki, director of Pioneer Adventures, which organized the expedition, told The Himalayan Times.
Are suffered snow blindness shortly after reaching the summit and was rescued from the South Summit. He later died at Camp II after being brought down by five Sherpa rescuers.
The deaths bring the toll on Everest this spring climbing season to five. Seven climbers have died across Nepal’s Himalayan mountains this season, according to the tourism department.
Three Nepali climbers had previously died on Everest during the current season.
Gautam said nearly 600 climbers, including permit holders and Sherpa guides, had reached Everest’s summit by Thursday.
Nepal issued permits to 492 foreign climbers for Everest this season, the highest number ever recorded for a spring climbing season. Officials said the mountain continues to draw climbers from around the world despite flight disruptions tied to the conflict in West Asia involving the United States and Iran and an increase in Nepal’s climbing royalty fees.
Separately, veteran mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa received a grand welcome in Kathmandu on Friday after returning from his record 32nd successful ascent of Mount Everest.
Expedition officials said the 56-year-old Sherpa reached the summit at 10:12 a.m. on May 17, extending his own world record. (Source: IANS)
