Kathmandu: A Sherpa guide died on Mt Everest after slipping into a crevasse near Camp II on Tuesday morning, taking total fatalities so far at the world’s tallest mountain this spring to three.
Earlier last week, two climbers—a Swiss and an American—died due to exhaustion while descending from the summit.
The deceased has been identified as Pemba Tashi Sherpa, a permanent resident of Sankhuwasabha district, the Department of Tourism confirmed.
“The deceased was returning to the base camp after successfully climbing the mountain. He slipped into the crevasse between Camp I and Camp II. The adverse weather is not to be blamed,” said Mira Acharya, Director of DoT.
The dead body could not be airlifted due to bad weather, added Acharya.
Meanwhile, the effect of cyclone Tauktae, which has hit western India, has been felt on the world’s tallest mountain as the storm has blown off tents set up by climbers at Camp IV on Monday.
According to meteorologist Shanti Kandel, the effect of the cyclone has been seen in Nepal, and the recent storm on Everest is also the effect of the cyclone. “The effect of the cyclone will be seen on Everest until Friday,” she said.
Following the incident, all the climbers have safely returned to Camp II as there is no possibility of summiting for the next few days.
For this spring season, the government has issued permits to 408 climbers to climb the world’s tallest mountain.
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