KATHMANDU, Oct 22 (NNN-XINHUA) – Five climbers, including four foreigners and a Nepali guide, who were stranded on the Mera Peak in eastern Nepal, due to bad weather and massive snowfalls, were rescued yesterday, but a Nepali climber remains missing, said the Nepal Mountaineering Association.
“The climbers were stranded on the mountain while returning, after reaching the peak. They were rescued on Tuesday and brought to the capital, Kathmandu, on a helicopter. They are receiving treatment at Kathmandu-based Grande Hospital,” the association said.
The Nepali climber with the expedition team is still missing, on the 6,476m-high peak, which lies close to Mt. Qomolangma, the world’s tallest at 8,848.86m, said the association, which issues climbing permits for 27 Himalayan mountains, ranging from 5,800m to 6,500m.
Shanta Bir Lama, president of the association said, the climbers were stranded Tuesday night as weather conditions worsened and helicopters could not mobilise for the rescue effort.
“Three climbers, including a British national, were staying in a cave at the height of 5,600 metres for the last three days, while the others were stranded in the base camp of the mountain,” he said. “Due to bad weather, the rescue team, mobilised on foot, brought these three climbers out, as helicopters could not be used for the search operation.”
The search operation is continuing for the Nepali climber who had gone missing since Tuesday, at a height of 5,600m, he added.
For the last few days, Nepal has been experiencing unseasonal rainfalls, which triggered floods and landslides, mostly in the eastern and western parts of the country, and snowfalls on the mountains.
The landslides and floods have claimed 101 lives and left 41 others missing by yesterday, Nepal Police said in a statement.– NNN-XINHUA
