KATHMANDU, May 26: Death toll on Everest has reached 10 with a British climber becoming the latest victim in the unforgiving terrain of the world’s highest mountain on Saturday.
Robin Haynes Fisher of Britain died at an altitude of 8600 meters while returning from the peak after a successful ascent of Everest, informed Meera Acharya, director of the Department of Tourism.
Citing Fisher’s expedition company, Everest Pariwar Treks, Acharya informed Republica that the forty-four-year old mountaineer collapsed while descending down to the base camp.
Dhruba Bista, a mountaineering guide, had breathed his last on Friday evening while he was returning back from Camp III.
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So far this season, six climbers have died on the southern side in Nepal whereas two died on the Chinese side to the north.
The climbers who died on the Chinese side of Everest some days back have been identified as Ing Landgraft of Austria and Kelvin Hynes of Ireland.
Of the six climbers who died on the southern slopes of Everest, four climbers reportedly died due to traffic jam on the world’s highest peak.
As Nepal granted climbing permits to a record 381 climbers this season, many climbers and Sherpa experienced hours-long traffic jam on Wednesday and Thursday.
American climber Donald Lynn Cash had died at the Balcony of Everest while descending from the summit. Three Indian climbers—Anjali Sharad Kulkarni, Kalpana Das and Nimal Ashpak—died on Thursday.
Earlier, another Indian, Ravi, was found dead at camp IV after his return from the summit.
Likewise, Irish national Seamus Sean Lawless has gone missing from the Balcony. Lawless had reportedly fallen into a gorge while descending with his Sherpa guide. So far, the expedition company Seven Summit Treks has not been able to trace the body.
The spring expedition of Everest begins in March and ends by late May. Climbers from various parts of the world gather at the Everest Base Camp for weeks seeking favorable weather condition for climbing Everest. Nepal, a home to eight of the 14 mountains above 8000 meters, welcomes hundreds of climbers every year.
At least 16 climbers and high-altitude Sherpas have died on various mountains of Nepal this season.
