Two Indian climbers dead in Nepal expedition

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) – Two Indian mountaineers were killed climbing down the world’s third-highest peak in Nepal, local media reported.

Nepalese media said the duo died due to "altitude ailments" -- hypothermia and snow blindness -- while scaling down Mount Kanchenjunga at Camp IV Wednesday night.

The two mountaineers were identified as Biplab Baidya, 48, and Kuntal Karar, 46, from the Indian state of West Bengal, the Kathmandu-based Himalayan Times reported.

There were three other climbers in their expedition team, the daily said.

"The incident occurred when the duo was being brought to Camp IV from an altitude of 8,400 m through a herculean rescue operation," the report said.

The report also said a climber from Chile went missing above Camp IV Wednesday evening. He was identified as Rodrigo Vivanco.

Separately, two Indian climbers and a German mountaineer who also suffered from serious frostbite will be evacuated from the high camp as early as possible, the report said.

- Kami Rita Sherpa breaks record

Nepal’s Kami Rita Sherpa broke his own record Wednesday when he scaled world’s highest peak Mount Everest for the 23rd time.

Kami, 49, hails from Thame village in Solukhumbu district of the tiny Himalayan nation.

He had climbed the Everest on May 16 last year for the 22nd time.

It was in 1994 that Kami made his first ascent to Everest when he was 24 years old.

Daily Kathmandu Post reported that 2019 Everest climbing season officially began on Tuesday with eight high-altitude Nepali climbing guides making it to the highest peak in the world.