Headlines
40 Indians trapped at Everest Camp I, II
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By Sayan Mukherjee and Sandip SikdarNew Delhi, April 27
At least 40 Indian
mountaineers remained trapped on Monday at Everest Camp I and II, cut
off from the Base Camp following avalanches triggered by the massive
earthquake two days ago, officials said.
Top Indian
Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) officials here said the climbers were
safe and authorities were considering air rescue operations to evacuate
the trapped climbers.
"Around 40 people are still stuck in Camp I
(19,500 ft) and Camp II (21,000 ft). No Indians are at Camp III (23,500
ft) and IV (26,300 ft). However, the main thing is that there are no
Indian casualties and no reports of any Indians missing," IMF secretary
Wing Commander H.K. Kutty (Retd) told IANS.
Three teams from
India, accredited to the IMF and attempting the world's highest peak,
were trapped on the Everest slopes following the avalanches. Several
other teams, which were making their respective attempts in individual
capacity, were also affected.
Among the three known teams, one
represents the Indian Army while other the two were from the IMF and the
Guwahati-based Assam Mountaineering Association (AMA). Around 70
Indians were at the Base Camp, Camp I and II when the avalanches struck
their respective camps.
The 34-member Indian Army team was at the Base Camp and was presently engaged in rescue operations.
"Three
Indian teams had gone for the expedition. An army team, an IMF team and
a team from Assam. The IMF team has already reached Gorakshep which is
below the Base Camp while the Assam team, from what I got to know today
morning, had reached the Base Camp," IMF president Col. H.S. Chauhan
(Retd) told IANS.
Gorakshep (16,942 ft), a roughly 90-minute trek
from the Base Camp (17,500 ft) is a frozen lakebed covered with sand.
It is the final acclimatisation halt on most common treks to Everest
Base Camp and is used for pitching tents.
Meanwhile, the Base
Camp (17,500 ft) is used as the starting point for Everest climbs while
the other camps come on the way for the mountaineers on the way up. Camp
IV is the final halt before the mountaineers climb the Everest summit.
However, air rescue operations were taking a hit due to inclement weather.
"Helicopters
can go to Camp I and II in emergency situations but they have to carry
less weight when they go to higher altitudes. If they go to Camp I and
II they can at most bring down two persons at one go. The higher the
altitude, the lesser the weight you can carry," Chauhan said.
"Rescue
operations are particularly for people who are injured and need
immediate medical attention. Otherwise people who are fit and can climb
up can definitely come down. The injured are being rescued by
helicopters."
Chauhan added that there are generally 600-800 people at the Base Camp during the summer climbing season.