New Delhi: Three Nepalese Sherpa guides went missing after falling into a deep canyon during an avalanche in the most dangerous part of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest. Nepalese officials said the incident occurred between Camp 1 and Mount Everest’s base camp, while Sherpa guides were carrying supplies for the expedition.
According to information, a team of 25 Sherpas were climbing the snowy peak of Khumbu in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Suddenly, a huge iceberg of more than 50 meters fell down from the mountain, under which three Sherpas disappeared. The missing Sherpas have been identified as Themwa Tenzing Sherpa, Lakpa Rita Sherpa and Badure Sherpa.
The report quoted Lakpa Norbu Sherpa, the Everest base camp coordinator of the Himalayan Rescue Association, as saying that the chances of finding the missing climbers alive were slim. Sherpas said they were buried five to six meters below. It was not possible to launch a search operation due to the threat of further avalanches. He said it was not like they could have fallen through the cracks. They are buried beneath the ice in the Khumbu Icefall, the most dangerous part of Everest. So it is not possible to find them alive.
Rescue work started
According to reports, Tourism Department official Bigyan Koirala said that rescue efforts are on. The helicopter made three rounds in the area to rescue him. Koirala said the rescue team will use equipment such as RECO detectors and avalanche transceivers to search and find people buried under the snow.
The Khumbu is spread over about 5500 m
It is worth mentioning that the Khumbu Icefall is almost a kilometer long ice river. Generally, climbers cross these ice falls using headlamps at night or early morning. Even experienced Sherpas are reluctant to venture out when the sun is shining. This snow fall extends from 5500m to 5800m and is located just above Everest Base Camp.
An earthquake of magnitude 7.8 occurred in the year 2015
In April 2015, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake triggered an avalanche on Mount Everest that killed 22 people, the deadliest ever recorded on the mountain. Earlier on April 18, 2014, 16 Sherpa guides were killed in an avalanche, of which 13 bodies were recovered, while three bodies could not be recovered.