Missing Indian mountaineer dies after climbing Mount Everest

A 27-year-old Indian climber, who went missing on Mount Everest, died when he fell into a crevice after conquering the world’s tallest peak, an official said today, as the total number of fatalities on the mountain this season rose to five.

The body of Ravi Kumar, a native of Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad district, was spotted by rescuers after 36 hours of intense search.

Kumar fell from the 8,200 metre altitude, which is popularly known as Balcony, and died, said Dinesh Bhattarai, Director General of Department of Tourism.

“Our liaison officer deputed in Mt Everest has confirmed that he died after he fell some 150 to 200 metre down from the Balcony while he was descending after the summit,” he told PTI.

“But it not possible to retrieve the body immediately,” Chowang Sherpa, managing director of Arun Treks and Expedition, said.

Balcony is the final resting spot before climbers ascend the south summit of the mountain.

With this, the total number of people who died from the Nepal side of Mt Everest has reached five.

Kumar successfully climbed the 8,848 meters high Mount Everest at 1:28 PM on Saturday. His climbing guide Lakpa Wongya Sherpa was also found unconscious after suffering from frostbite at Camp IV.

Kumar and the climbing guide got separated during the descent.

Ang Tshering Sherpa, president of Nepal Mountaineering Association earlier had earlier said that “the chances of his survival were slim, as more than 24 hours had elapsed since he went missing in the extreme climate”.

An American and a Slovakian died near the summit of the world’s highest peak yesterday. An Australian also died while the identity of the fourth person was not immediately known.

Nepal has cleared 371 mountaineers to climb Mount Everest during the current season ending this month.

Nearly 300 people have died on Mt Everest since the first ascent to the peak was made in 1953.

It is estimated that more than 200 dead bodies are still lying on the mountain.