Two Indian climbers have died on Mount Everest during a record-breaking ascent of the southern route of Nepal, as experts warn of overcrowding on the world’s highest peak.
“They fell ill when they came down from a high place. We are looking at how to get the bodies out,” said Nivesh Karki, the director of Pioneer Adventures, told AFP.
He named them Sandeep Are, who he said had a summit on May 20, and Arun Kumar Tiwari, who reached the summit on May 21.
Nepal is home to eight of the world’s 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of travelers every spring.
At least five climbers have died during this Everest season, including two Indians and three Nepalis. American and Czech mountaineer He died on Makalu mountain earlier this month.
Purnima Shrestha / REUTERS
A Nepalese mountain My Rita Sherpawho climbed Everest a record 32 times earlier this month, returned to the capital Kathmandu on Friday, where he expressed concern about the experience of other climbers.
Pictures posted by climbers show a long line of people climbing fixed ropes, standing in snowy, low-altitude areas.
“It was more crowded this year compared to last year because there were more clients,” Kami Rita Sherpa told reporters at Kathmandu airport after flying back from the mountain. “There is a need for the authorities to control this population.”
“They should only allow high-level climbers — there should be a limit,” he told AFP.
Records are falling
On Thursday, a a record number of climbers reached the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) height of the Himalayan from the Nepali side, according to tourism officials, who gave an initial total of 275 pending final confirmation.
A large amount can be handled from Nepal and the northern face of Tibet, but the Chinese authorities have closed the last route this year.
The Guinness Book of World Records lists the highest number of Everest climbs in one day as 354, in May 2019.
Nepali tourism officials said the final number will be calculated after the climbs are verified, which requires photos and statements from tour companies and guides.
Among the climbers who succeeded on Friday was British guide Kenton Cool, who reached the summit for the 20th time – extending his record for the highest climb in the world by a non-Nepali.
The high number of climbers has also raised concerns about overcrowding on the mountain — especially if bad weather shortens the climbing window.
About 600 people – including guides – have scaled Everest since this year’s spring climbing season began in April.
This year’s Everest climbing season got off to a late start due to the danger of a giant serac hanging on the main route to the summit.
Mountain experts often criticize Nepal for allowing too many people to attempt to scale Everest at the same time, which can create dangerous overcrowding in some areas. As a result, Nepal has imposed strict controls and high fees.
Thousands of people rode the peak as first measured on May 29, 1953, by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay.
