KATHMANDU, June 17: Altogether 61 Indian climbers successfully scaled Mt Everest this spring season as the country topped the list of Everest summiteers this year. China was hot on the heels of India for successfully climbing the world’s highest peak.
The Department of Tourism, the body responsible for overseeing the country’s mountain expeditions, confirmed that China stood in the second position in terms of climbers scaling Everest. Fifty-four Chinese climbers stood atop Everest this spring season.
Details show climbing success rate of Chinese was higher than Indians. Of the total 78 Everest hopeful Indians, 61 successfully climbed the world’s highest peak. Among the Indian permitted to climb Mt Everest, three Indian nationals Vikas Rana, Shobha Banwala and Ankush Kasana have been accused of making fake claims of Everest summit without reaching the top of the mountain.
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According to sources privy to the matter, the Indian climbers had reached only Camp III before abandoning their climb on May 26. But they manipulated the Expedition Company, Prestige Adventure, and allegedly bribed liaison officer Bishwa Bandhu Regmi to recommend the department to get certificates of having reached the summit of Everest.
A total of 60 Chinese climbers had received permission for climbing Everest this spring. Of the total Everest hopefuls, 54 were successful to climb the world’s highest mountain.
Of the total 644 successful Everest summiteers of this season, 42 are from the United States of America and 29 from the United Kingdom. This year, 75 US climbers had attempted to scale the mountain whereas 44 Britons had tried to climb Everest.
Likewise, 13 Nepalis stood atop Everest in record books although the total number of Nepali climbers scaling Everest was 377. Of them, 364 were Sherpas who assisted foreigners as well as fellow Nepalis to climb the peak.
The Department of Tourism had issued a record number of 381 climbers this year. The total number of climbers, however, reached 1024 when high-altitude Sherpas and support staffers were taken into account.
Nepal, a home to eight mountains above 8000 meters, attracts hundreds of mountain enthusiasts every year. The expedition which begins in March concludes by the end of May when the weather is most favourable.
