Indian Mountaineer Rescued From Everest Succumbs In Kathmandu, Death Toll For The Season Climbs To 8

Banshi Lal, a 46-year-old mountaineer, who was rescued from Mount Everest last week and taken to a hospital in Nepal’s Kathmandu was reported dead yesterday, according to Rakesh Gurung from the tourism department. Out of the eight missing individuals, a British climber and two Nepali guides are presumed dead. This recent death marks a relatively low fatality rate of eight so far as compared to the previous year’s record of 18 deaths, the highest on record in any of the Everest climbing seasons.

As per a report by AFP, a Romanian who was attempting to climb Lhotse, a neighbour of Everest, and a French and a Nepali climber died on Makalu, the world’s fifth-highest mountain. These were among the three climbers who perished while ascending other Nepali peaks.

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Nepal Is Home To Eight Of World’s Highest Peaks

Nepal, home to eight of the world’s ten highest peaks, attracts hundreds of adventurers each spring when the weather is favorable. All Everest fatalities occurred above 8,000 meters, an area known as the “death zone,” where the thin air and low oxygen increase the risk of altitude sickness.

This year has also seen the breaking of several records, such as the record set by Nepali climber Phunjo Lamam, who became the first woman to reach the summit of Everest in a record-breaking 14 hours and 31 minutes.

Three decades after his first summit, 54-year-old Kami Rita Sherpa, a Nepali climber dubbed “Everest Man,” made history by reaching the top of the world’s highest mountain for the record 30th time.

It typically takes days for climbers to reach the 8,849-meter peak, where they spend the nights at various camps to recover and acclimate.

This year, Nepal has granted permits for over 900 mountains, including 419 for Everest, bringing in over $5 million in royalties.

More than 600 climbers and their guides have already reached Everest’s summit following a rope-fixing team’s successful ascent last month. Additionally, China reopened the Tibetan route to foreigners for the first time since its closure in 2020 due to the pandemic.