High altitude, adverse weather behind Everest deaths: study committee

Kathmandu – A committee formed to study the deaths of Mt Everest climbers has concluded that the deaths were not caused by congestion. The mountaineering tourism reform and advisory committee that made public its report at the Tourism Ministry on Wednesday argued that some climbers died during mountaineering because of ‘high altitude sickness’ and adverse weather condition.

The committee led by Ghanashyam Upadhyay submitted the report to Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Yogesh Bhattarai, and further asserted that negative news –flood of climbers and unchecked mountaineering permit caused the climbers’ death -was disseminated globally. The photos of the climbers on a ‘traffic jam’ on the way atop the Everest were published with reports in media last season.

“It was also because of weak health condition of climbers leading to their deaths,” Upadhyay said, adding that they had to wait for long while ascending the Everest. The government had formed the five member study committee on June 7 early this year, which had representation from Tourism Department, Nepal Mountaineering Association, and Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal. As per the report, most of the climbers had wanted to go atop the Everest on May 22 and 23 at the same hour, which forced them to wait for long.

Last Spring, a total of 961 persons had climbed up Nepal’s mountains where 364 scaled the Everest alone. Among them, 15 had lost lives while ascending the peaks. Similarly, a mountaineer from Ireland is still missing. The committee has suggested well-planned time table on mountaineering on peak season of Everest climbing. On the occasion, Minister Bhattarai expressed commitment that the recommendations given by the committee would be implemented with formulation of plans. The mountain climbing standard would be will be strictly implemented. RSS