Search for Missing Sherpa Climbers Yields No Results After Avalanche in Khumbu Icefall Region

On Wednesday morning, an avalanche occurred between Everest Base Camp and Camp I, causing three Sherpa climbers to go missing in the Khumbu icefall region. Despite search and rescue teams dispatched to the scene, no progress has been made in locating the missing climbers. The search operations are still underway by a combined team of Imagine Nepal, Himalayan Rescue (HRA) Nepal, and the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), but bad weather and thick layers of snow have hindered the search process.

According to Yogesh Sapkota, marketing chief of Simrik Air, a helicopter dispatched to assist in the search operation has also not been able to provide any additional information due to the difficult search conditions. The missing climbers are identified as Da Chiri Sherpa, Pemba Tenzin Sherpa, and Lakpa Rita Sherpa, and are residents of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality 5.

Despite the ongoing search and rescue operations, the process of route fixing to the summit of Mt Sagarmatha will continue. The Department of Tourism will hold discussions before making any further decisions on the search mission. With the spring climbing season in full swing, as many as 243 climbers have received permission to climb the world's tallest peak, including 41 women and 202 men. The total royalties collected this season for issuing permits to climb Mt Sagarmatha alone exceeds Rs 334 million.