Search, rescue efforts on for missing Sherpa guides on Mt Everest

Search and rescue efforts are ongoing for those who have gone missing in an avalanche on the foot of Mt Everest on April 12.

Three Sherpa guides had gone missing after an avalanche buried them in a crevasse. The air and land search and rescue operations have continued in coordination with the local administration, the Mount Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), the Himalayan Rescue Association, the Imagine Nepal Trek and Expedition and the Expedition Operators Association Nepal, according to a statement issued by the Department of Tourism.

"It increasingly becomes difficult to search and rescue those buried in an avalanche. We are yet to get additional details about their whereabouts. The department is searching for them in coordination with the stakeholders," said the Department Director General Hom Prasad Luitel.

The three identified as Dachhiri Sherpa, Pemba Tenzing Sherpa and Lakpa Rita Sherpa who were ferrying materials to construct and clear the route leading to the summit of the world's tallest peak were caught in the avalanche at Dam of Icefall area between the base camp and camp 1, it has been said. Three of them from Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality-5 were deployed from the Imagine Nepal Trek and Expedition Pvt Ltd.

With the onset of spring season, the construction and clearance of the climbing route leading to the Mount Everest is ongoing, said the Department. The construction of the trail up to the camp 2 has been over, said the SPCC.

The Imagine Nepal Trek and Expedition has undertaken rope fixing at the upper part of the camp 2.

So far, the total 197 climbers of 20 groups (31 women and 166 men) have taken permission to scale Mount Everest in this spring season, according to the Department.

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