17 February in history: Foundation of Red Cross, first winter ascent of Mount Everest and more

A South African business executive reached the top of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/five-tons-of-garbage-collected-from-mount-everest-217208&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjtpLH6maDiAhWSinAKHS0ADREQFjADegQIDxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2JYdeQ6ZfVZ1-4-i6OEAvR">Mount Everest</a> on Thursday in what is believed to be the first summit of the world's highest mountain by a black African woman.

Saray Khumalo, 47, reached the top of the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) mountain after three previous bids were thwarted by bad weather, injury and tragedy.

Khumalo's Summits with a Purpose expedition organiser said she was the first black African woman to reach the top of Everest.

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/3-killed-4-injured-in-nepal-plane-crash-near-mount-everest-210251&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjtpLH6maDiAhWSinAKHS0ADREQFjAEegQIAhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Q4058vr6qsvunz3G-hoNs">Nepal's </a>Tourism Department confirmed that Khumalo had made the summit but had no record on whether she was the first black African woman.

In 2017, strong winds and frostbite forced Khumalo to give up on Everest, just metres from the summit. In 2015, her expedition was cancelled after an earthquake hit Nepal.

All Everest climbs were halted during her first attempt in 2014 when an avalanche killed 16 guides on the mountain.

Khumalo is on a quest to conquer the highest peaks on each continent.

She has already climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Aconcagua in Argentina and Mount Elbrus in Russia.

In 2003, South African park ranger Sibusiso Vilane became the first black person to summit Mount Everest.

Khumalo uses her expeditions to raise funds for libraries and support children's educational activities.

"My dream is to go higher and go further for as long as I breathe. To pave a way for my children and other ordinary people so we may realise and accept that ordinary people like us can achieve extraordinary heights," Khumalo says on her website.

Many Himalayan mountains -- including Everest, the worlds highest -- are at peak climbing season with the window of good weather between late April and the end of May.

The death toll is already mounting, however.

Two Indian climbers have died and a Chilean is missing on Mount Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain, expedition organisers said.

Biplab Baidya, 48, and Kuntal Karar, 46, were on the 8,586-metre (28,169-foot) mountain on the Nepal-India border with a five-member team from India's West Bengal state.

An operation was started to retrieve their bodies.

Last week, Peruvian climber Richard Hidalgo died on Mount Makalu, the world's fifth-highest mountain, while a Malaysian died in April after being rescued from Mount Annapurna, where he spent two nights in the open near the summit.

<a href="https://climbinggearlab.com/mount-everest-deaths/">Hundreds of climbers flock each year to Nepal</a> -- home to eight of the world's 14 highest peaks -- creating a lucrative mountain industry for the impoverished country.

A South African business executive reached the top of Mount Everest on Thursday in what is believed to be the first summit of the world's highest mountain by a black African woman.

A South African business executive reached the top of Mount Everest on Thursday in what is believed to be the first summit of the world's highest mountain by a black African woman. Saray Khumalo, 47, reached the top of the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) mountain after three previous bids were thwarted by bad weather, injury and tragedy. Khumalo's Summits with a Purpose expedition organiser said she was the first black African woman to reach the top of Everest. Nepal's Tourism Department confirmed that Khumalo had made the summit but had no record on whether she was the first black African woman. In 2017, strong winds and frostbite forced Khumalo to give up on Everest, just metres from the summit. In 2015, her expedition was cancelled after an earthquake hit Nepal. All Everest climbs were halted during her first attempt in 2014 when an avalanche killed 16 guides on the mountain. Khumalo is on a quest to conquer the highest peaks on each continent. She has already climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Aconcagua in Argentina and Mount Elbrus in Russia. In 2003, South African park ranger Sibusiso Vilane became the first black person to summit Mount Everest. Khumalo uses her expeditions to raise funds for libraries and support children's educational activities. "My dream is to go higher and go further for as long as I breathe. To pave a way for my children and other ordinary people so we may realise and accept that ordinary people like us can achieve extraordinary heights," Khumalo says on her website. Many Himalayan mountains -- including Everest, the worlds highest -- are at peak climbing season with the window of good weather between late April and the end of May. The death toll is already mounting, however. Two Indian climbers have died and a Chilean is missing on Mount Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain, expedition organisers said. Biplab Baidya, 48, and Kuntal Karar, 46, were on the 8,586-metre (28,169-foot) mountain on the Nepal-India border with a five-member team from India's West Bengal state. An operation was started to retrieve their bodies. Last week, Peruvian climber Richard Hidalgo died on Mount Makalu, the world's fifth-highest mountain, while a Malaysian died in April after being rescued from Mount Annapurna, where he spent two nights in the open near the summit. Hundreds of climbers flock each year to Nepal -- home to eight of the world's 14 highest peaks -- creating a lucrative mountain industry for the impoverished country.

South African woman makes landmark Mount Everest summit

Areas around the Himalayan and Mount Everest region are getting greener with the growing of shrubs and grasses, claimed scientists in a new research.&nbsp;

This development raises new concerns of climate change as the Hindu Kush Himalayan region&nbsp;is known for its snow cover.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepals-proposed-changes-to-climbing-permits-for-mount-everest-268824">Nepal proposes climbing permit changes for Mount Everest</a>

A team of researchers from UK’s University of Exeter used data from 1993 to 2018 to measure the extent of subnival vegetation, plants growing between the treeline and snowline.

Researchers said that the ecosystem that consist grass and shrubs, now cover between five to 15 times the area of what were entirely glaciers and snow.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/mount-everest-the-worlds-highest-rubbish-dump-145064">Mount Everest: The World's Highest rubbish dump</a>

The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/10/grass-growing-around-mount-everest-as-global-heating-intensifies">findings </a>did not give a reason for the increase in the green cover, however, it backs previous claims that predict a decline in glacier in the Himalayan region due to global warming.&nbsp;

The researchers also found significant increase in the vegetaion at the height of 4,150-6,000 metres above sea level. Generally, at a height over 6,000 metres above sea level is not considered suitable for the growing of plants.&nbsp;

The research noted that the vegetation most grew at the height of 5,000-5,500 metres.&nbsp;

Since the turn of this century, ice melting in Himalayas has doubled. In the last 40 years, more than 25 per cent of all ice has been lost. The study has also showed that its ecosystems are highly vulnerable to climate-induced change in vegetation.

Karen Anderson from the University of Exeter said that a lot of studies has been done on ice melting in the Himalayan region, including a research that showed how the rate of ice loss doubled between 2000 and 2016, reported Guardian.

However, he added that more vegetation may not actually increase the likeliness of warming and flood risks as the only study in the region, in Tibet, found that the water in the plants that is evaporated through their leaf surface actually made a cooling impact.&nbsp;

Areas around the Himalayan and Mount Everest region are getting greener with the growing of shrubs and grasses, claimed scientists in a new research. This development raises new concerns of climate change as the Hindu Kush Himalayan region is known for its snow cover.

Areas around the Himalayan and Mount Everest region are getting greener with the growing of shrubs and grasses, claimed scientists in a new research. This development raises new concerns of climate change as the Hindu Kush Himalayan region is known for its snow cover. Also read: Nepal proposes climbing permit changes for Mount Everest A team of researchers from UK’s University of Exeter used data from 1993 to 2018 to measure the extent of subnival vegetation, plants growing between the treeline and snowline. Researchers said that the ecosystem that consist grass and shrubs, now cover between five to 15 times the area of what were entirely glaciers and snow. Also read: Mount Everest: The World's Highest rubbish dump The findings did not give a reason for the increase in the green cover, however, it backs previous claims that predict a decline in glacier in the Himalayan region due to global warming. The researchers also found significant increase in the vegetaion at the height of 4,150-6,000 metres above sea level. Generally, at a height over 6,000 metres above sea level is not considered suitable for the growing of plants. The research noted that the vegetation most grew at the height of 5,000-5,500 metres. Since the turn of this century, ice melting in Himalayas has doubled. In the last 40 years, more than 25 per cent of all ice has been lost. The study has also showed that its ecosystems are highly vulnerable to climate-induced change in vegetation. Karen Anderson from the University of Exeter said that a lot of studies has been done on ice melting in the Himalayan region, including a research that showed how the rate of ice loss doubled between 2000 and 2016, reported Guardian. However, he added that more vegetation may not actually increase the likeliness of warming and flood risks as the only study in the region, in Tibet, found that the water in the plants that is evaporated through their leaf surface actually made a cooling impact.

Satellite images find grass, shrubs in Mount Everest

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-urges-climbers-trekkers-to-halt-activities-as-rainfall-continues-250461">Nepal</a> government has proposed changes to its permit process for climbers on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/record-chasing-nepali-climber-wants-to-inspire-next-generation-256549">Mount Everest</a> following the deaths of eleven climbers this year. The proposals, and associated criticisms, include:

- Climbers must submit proof of having scaled at least one 6,500m peak in Nepal. Critics argue limiting the provision to Nepal makes no sense.

- Climbers must produce a certificate of good health. Critics say it is easy to forge such certificates or find a compliant doctor.

- Guides must have three years of experience organising high-altitude climbs. Critics say so many Sherpas can claim such experience that virtually all outfitters will qualify.

The Nepal government has proposed changes to its permit process for climbers on Mount Everest following the deaths of eleven climbers this year. The proposals, and associated criticisms, include: - Climbers must submit proof of having scaled at least one 6,500m peak in Nepal.

The Nepal government has proposed changes to its permit process for climbers on Mount Everest following the deaths of eleven climbers this year. The proposals, and associated criticisms, include: - Climbers must submit proof of having scaled at least one 6,500m peak in Nepal. Critics argue limiting the provision to Nepal makes no sense. - Climbers must produce a certificate of good health. Critics say it is easy to forge such certificates or find a compliant doctor. - Guides must have three years of experience organising high-altitude climbs. Critics say so many Sherpas can claim such experience that virtually all outfitters will qualify.

Nepal proposes climbing permit changes for Mount Everest

For pioneering Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, on track to finish climbing the world's 14 highest mountains in a record seven months, reaching the summit of the last peak is part of a broader quest.

The 36-year-old kicked off his ambitious "Project Possible" to scale 14 peaks above 8,000 metres (26,247 feet) in April with Nepal's Annapurna.

As he prepares to climb Mount Shishapangma in China, the last on his list, Purja told AFP he wants to use his feats to inspire the next generation of Nepali climbers to break his records.

Sherpas -- Nepalis who often work as guides for foreign mountaineers -- are the backbone of the country's lucrative climbing industry, but don't attract as much attention or accolades as their international companions.

"Nepal is home to the highest peaks in the world. There are so much better climbers out there who (haven't) got the opportunity," he told AFP in Kathmandu.

"International attention and sponsors rush easily towards foreign climbers but Nepalis don't get such opportunities."

Born in a small village in western Nepal, Purja joined two older brothers in the Gurkhas -- a unit of Nepalis recruited into the British army -- in his late teens, serving in the military for 16 years, including with the elite Special Boat Service.

While in the military, Purja summited Everest, the world's highest peak at 8,848 metres, and Lhotse (8,516 metres) in a record 10 hours and 15 minutes in 2017.

He then turned his sights on conquering the so-called 8,000-ers -- but with a twist. He would attempt the feat in months, not years.

- Seven months, 14 peaks -

Since legendary Italian mountaineer Reinhold Messner first completed the 8,000-ers -- without supplementary oxygen -- in 1986, some 39 climbers have achieved the feat.

South Korean Kim Chang-ho holds the record without bottled oxygen, which he achieved in seven years, 10 months and six days.&nbsp;

Polish climber Jerzy Kukuczka's seven years, 11 months and 14 days is the fastest with oxygen, and it is this record that Purja is chasing.

Purja faced hurdles from the beginning. When he first told others about his new quest, "everyone was laughing at me and saying 'how it will be possible'?".

Detractors told him each mountain would take two months to summit, and he would need good weather and time to recover.

But confident of his abilities, Purja set out on his quest, working hard to secure the funding needed for the missions.

Purja climbed Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Kanchenjunga, Everest, Lhotse and Makalu -- among the highest of peaks -- in just one month in the first part of his record attempt.

The day he summited Everest this year, he also captured a notorious human traffic jam at the peak in a photograph that went around the world.&nbsp;

A month later, he headed to Pakistan for the second part, sprinting up and down five of Pakistan's highest peaks including the treacherous K2 and Nanga Parbat, within a month.&nbsp;

Purja began his final push in September, reaching the tops of Cho Oyu and Manaslu within a week.

He is proud of what he has achieved, which includes setting several speed climbing records.

"It is about trusting your ability," he said.

"You always need to have (a) positive mindset because sometimes things will go wrong, (but)... you can make impossible the possible."

For pioneering Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, on track to finish climbing the world's 14 highest mountains in a record seven months, reaching the summit of the last peak is part of a broader quest.

For pioneering Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, on track to finish climbing the world's 14 highest mountains in a record seven months, reaching the summit of the last peak is part of a broader quest. The 36-year-old kicked off his ambitious "Project Possible" to scale 14 peaks above 8,000 metres (26,247 feet) in April with Nepal's Annapurna. As he prepares to climb Mount Shishapangma in China, the last on his list, Purja told AFP he wants to use his feats to inspire the next generation of Nepali climbers to break his records. Sherpas -- Nepalis who often work as guides for foreign mountaineers -- are the backbone of the country's lucrative climbing industry, but don't attract as much attention or accolades as their international companions. "Nepal is home to the highest peaks in the world. There are so much better climbers out there who (haven't) got the opportunity," he told AFP in Kathmandu. "International attention and sponsors rush easily towards foreign climbers but Nepalis don't get such opportunities." Born in a small village in western Nepal, Purja joined two older brothers in the Gurkhas -- a unit of Nepalis recruited into the British army -- in his late teens, serving in the military for 16 years, including with the elite Special Boat Service. While in the military, Purja summited Everest, the world's highest peak at 8,848 metres, and Lhotse (8,516 metres) in a record 10 hours and 15 minutes in 2017. He then turned his sights on conquering the so-called 8,000-ers -- but with a twist. He would attempt the feat in months, not years. - Seven months, 14 peaks - Since legendary Italian mountaineer Reinhold Messner first completed the 8,000-ers -- without supplementary oxygen -- in 1986, some 39 climbers have achieved the feat. South Korean Kim Chang-ho holds the record without bottled oxygen, which he achieved in seven years, 10 months and six days. Polish climber Jerzy Kukuczka's seven years, 11 months and 14 days is the fastest with oxygen, and it is this record that Purja is chasing. Purja faced hurdles from the beginning. When he first told others about his new quest, "everyone was laughing at me and saying 'how it will be possible'?". Detractors told him each mountain would take two months to summit, and he would need good weather and time to recover. But confident of his abilities, Purja set out on his quest, working hard to secure the funding needed for the missions. Purja climbed Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Kanchenjunga, Everest, Lhotse and Makalu -- among the highest of peaks -- in just one month in the first part of his record attempt. The day he summited Everest this year, he also captured a notorious human traffic jam at the peak in a photograph that went around the world. A month later, he headed to Pakistan for the second part, sprinting up and down five of Pakistan's highest peaks including the treacherous K2 and Nanga Parbat, within a month. Purja began his final push in September, reaching the tops of Cho Oyu and Manaslu within a week. He is proud of what he has achieved, which includes setting several speed climbing records. "It is about trusting your ability," he said. "You always need to have (a) positive mindset because sometimes things will go wrong, (but)... you can make impossible the possible."

Record-chasing Nepali climber wants to inspire next generation

Climbers wanting to take on Mount Everest will first have to tackle another Nepal mountain of at least 6,500 metres&nbsp;under new proposals by a committee seeking to improve safety on the world's highest peak.

The requirement is being proposed after a deadly traffic-clogged season saw 11 climbers die on Everest, which some experts blamed on inexperience.

"These recommendations have been made to ensure the quality and safety of Nepal's mountaineering tourism," Ghanshyam Upadhayay, tourism ministry official and head of the committee told AFP.&nbsp;

The committee also proposed a fee of at least $35,000 for Everest and $20,000 for other mountains over 8,000 metres, amid criticism that cost-cutting by expedition organisers was jeopardising climbers' safety.&nbsp;

The 59-page report recommended minimum standards for climbers, expedition organisers as well as guides and government liaison officers involved in Nepal's lucrative mountaineering industry.&nbsp;

"We will take this forward by amending the laws and regulations... we will make our mountains safe, managed and dignified," Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattari told reporters.&nbsp;

For years, Kathmandu has issued Everest permits to anyone willing to pay $11,000, regardless of whether they were rookie climbers or skilled mountaineers.

This year record 885 people climbed Everest, 644 of them from the south and 241 from the northern flank in Tibet.&nbsp;

Nine of the 11 deaths were on the Nepal side, and at least four of the deaths this season were blamed on overcrowding.

A traffic jam forced teams to wait for hours in freezing temperatures to reach Everest's 8,848-metre (29,029 feet) summit and then descend, increasing the risk of frostbite, altitude sickness and exhaustion from depleted oxygen levels.

But experts say the bigger killer was inexperience among a new wave of ill-prepared mountaineer tourists.

"This is a good opportunity to improve the sector. If we want things to change the suggestions have to be implemented," said Santa Bir Lama, president of Nepal Mountaineering Association, who was also part of the committee.

Nepal is home to eight of the world's 14 highest peaks, and foreign climbers that flock to its mountains are a major source of revenue for the country.

Climbers wanting to take on Mount Everest will first have to tackle another Nepal mountain of at least 6,500 metres under new proposals by a committee seeking to improve safety on the world's highest peak.

Climbers wanting to take on Mount Everest will first have to tackle another Nepal mountain of at least 6,500 metres under new proposals by a committee seeking to improve safety on the world's highest peak. The requirement is being proposed after a deadly traffic-clogged season saw 11 climbers die on Everest, which some experts blamed on inexperience. "These recommendations have been made to ensure the quality and safety of Nepal's mountaineering tourism," Ghanshyam Upadhayay, tourism ministry official and head of the committee told AFP. The committee also proposed a fee of at least $35,000 for Everest and $20,000 for other mountains over 8,000 metres, amid criticism that cost-cutting by expedition organisers was jeopardising climbers' safety. The 59-page report recommended minimum standards for climbers, expedition organisers as well as guides and government liaison officers involved in Nepal's lucrative mountaineering industry. "We will take this forward by amending the laws and regulations... we will make our mountains safe, managed and dignified," Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattari told reporters. For years, Kathmandu has issued Everest permits to anyone willing to pay $11,000, regardless of whether they were rookie climbers or skilled mountaineers. This year record 885 people climbed Everest, 644 of them from the south and 241 from the northern flank in Tibet. Nine of the 11 deaths were on the Nepal side, and at least four of the deaths this season were blamed on overcrowding. A traffic jam forced teams to wait for hours in freezing temperatures to reach Everest's 8,848-metre (29,029 feet) summit and then descend, increasing the risk of frostbite, altitude sickness and exhaustion from depleted oxygen levels. But experts say the bigger killer was inexperience among a new wave of ill-prepared mountaineer tourists. "This is a good opportunity to improve the sector. If we want things to change the suggestions have to be implemented," said Santa Bir Lama, president of Nepal Mountaineering Association, who was also part of the committee. Nepal is home to eight of the world's 14 highest peaks, and foreign climbers that flock to its mountains are a major source of revenue for the country.

Nepal mulls minimum Everest criteria after deadly season

Emphasising the importance of our natural blessings and holding the accountability towards every action we do, Aparna Kumar speaks to WION and says that she is really worried about what we as human beings are contributing to maintaining the natural vibrancy of our environment.&nbsp;

Aparna Kumar made headlines by scaling Mount Denali in Alaska, USA, and with this climb, she became the first( IPS) Officer and DIG in (ITBP) to climb North America’s highest peak and also the first IPS officer to complete the Seven Summits Challenge ( challenge of climbing highest point in each of the 7 continents.)

She also became the first woman IPS DIG and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) officer to complete the South Pole expedition.

In an interview with WION's Ayushi Agarwal, Aparna Kumar said that we should worry about what is happening around us and start doing it at a very young age to keep our mountains/glaciers protected.&nbsp;

Here are some excerpts of their conversations.&nbsp;

WION- As a passionate mountaineer, you must be holding a very special place for ice and snow. How do you feel about hearing and reading the studies predicting that the ice is melting at a very steady rate? What is your take on being to such places?

APARNA KUMAR- The drawback is completely visible. The places that I had visited is evidence of the fact that climate is changing and glaciers are receding at a very faster rate. But it depends on many factors. If you ask me about my experience, then I feel that I had seen many variations. For instance, when I went to Denali in late June, it was raining incessantly and snowing heavily. So it is all about variations. But yes, what we experience is because of the fact what we did in the past. The sudden change in climate is not an overnight variation, but it is our human activities that had led to such adversities and we must hold the onus.&nbsp;

Reading studies about climate change and coming across such news and data bothers me. As a mountaineer, I see effects everywhere. It is more visible now than it was before. &nbsp;You can see more rock pieces now. &nbsp;Even our guides who have been climbing for 15 years have themselves witnessed this drastic change. The ice is melting at such a faster rate. This is unfortunate.&nbsp;

WION- Climbers try hard to forge new routes to avoid litter and pollutants during climbing. Did you also witness litters and pollutants on your journey? What did you feel after witnessing such things?

APARNA KUMAR- My experience in witnessing such pollutants has been different in every mountain that I had scaled up. To me, Mount Denali has been one of the cleanest mountains that I have climbed so far. The National park service makes a lot of effort in keeping the mountain clean. Also, we have some set rules, like we get clean mountain camps in which we have to stick. They give us polythene covers which are inserted into these clean mountain camps, also known as CMC's, and once they fill up, we have to replace the polythene with a new one so that we can use that and these again will be brought down to the base camp and then out of the glacier. These are all biodegradable polythene covers and Everything is brought down and nothing is left on the mountains. So, this is a very strict rule and these park rangers of National Park service keeps on monitoring if we are sticking to the rules or not. Hence my experience in terms of cleanliness had been amazing on Denali.&nbsp; 
If you ask me what I felt in the other mountains then I must say that apart from the Himalayas, every other mountain is very particular about keeping it clean.&nbsp;

One way I suggest that we can contribute to keeping the pollutants/litters out is by government/association designing the policies and imposing strict rules to maintain the blessing that we have in such forms.&nbsp;

WION - Climbing mountains are hit from climate disruption and global warming issues making things harder and deteriorating the natural vibrancy. How do you see this and what do you suggest on such cases as the process is slow and visible to the eyes of scientists?

APARNA KUMAR - See, we need to be very serious towards protecting our environment at a very young age. In India, we lack behind many countries in terms of cleanliness and keeping natural gifts secure. Hence we need to do this right from the very basic level to the advanced. For example, even if is our own house, we try pushing the garbage towards our neighborhood without understanding the fact that the process would be coming back to us. So we need to be very conscious and should start becoming a responsible citizen. This is I believe should begin by targeting young people who very well know how to take care of their things. Also, our education in some forms should include serious issues in the environment.&nbsp;

WION - In recent days, Everest and Nanda Devi have quite been in news. Be it for the bottlenecks in the peaks, body retrieval and plucking tonnes of garbage. What will you say about the traffic management?&nbsp;

APARNA KUMAR - Adventure has now been very popular. Everyone wants to climb Everest and peaks. But we need to understand that not everyone can climb mountains. You need to be very serious about it. The traffic that has been on Everest is a very serious issue. It is because every year on Everest, there is an unlimited number of people scaling up who are inexperienced, not acclimatize to the weather conditions and are not serious about mountaineering. This results in their illness and also death. The extreme weather conditions on any mountain do not favour everyone resulting in getting them back, alive or dead which is not at all an easy nut to crack. So, we need to come up with strictest rules to avoid bottlenecks and adversities.&nbsp;

Nanda Devi is again not so crowded. Very few people climb it because it is a very tough peak. The recent news that had come up was a freak accident and a natural calamity of an avalanche that killed all climbers.&nbsp; 
The only way to reduce such calamities is by following rules and reducing human activities.&nbsp;

WION- You had recently made headlines by becoming the first IPS officer to reach the South Pole and now by scaling seven summits. Tell us more about your journey and how did you think of doing such arduous take?&nbsp;

APARNA KUMAR- Yes, it was a very gradual and step by step process. I first started climbing smaller mountains like Kilimanjaro and then taking up to the higher. The journey started in 2013 when I was posted as the Commander of 9th battalion PAC. It used to take care of high altitudes of Uttarakhand along the Indo-Tibetan border. People used to tell me about their adventurous stories and their experiences on walking on snow and pulling their sledge full of luggage. It made me curious about attempting it.&nbsp;

While my training began in 2013 when I did a basic mountaineering course from Manali. I was adjudged with A-grade, which made it possible for me to pursue an advanced mountaineering course which I completed in July 2014. The course made me eligible for expeditions. Shortly after, my training began. I knew I had to be physically and mentally strong as the task demands a lot of vigor. So before climbing up Everest, I had already climbed 7-8 peaks and then I thought of doing the Seven Summits.&nbsp;

WION- How did you feel after unfurling the Indian Flag once you completed your seven summits? One message that you want to give?&nbsp;

APARNA KUMAR- It was a big sense of relief because since past years, I have been trying hard to complete it but the extreme weather conditions sent me back home. This time I did it before the scheduled time. &nbsp;So in the end, it was very relieving and also I was happy in becoming the first one/Indian among my group of climbers to get it done in a foreign country.&nbsp;

One message that I want to give is to hold the onus of our deeds. We should start taking our biodiversity very seriously otherwise one day, everything around us will perish! 
&nbsp;

Emphasising the importance of our natural blessings and holding the accountability towards every action we do, Aparna Kumar speaks to WION and says that she is really worried about what we as human beings are contributing to maintaining the natural vibrancy of our environment.

Emphasising the importance of our natural blessings and holding the accountability towards every action we do, Aparna Kumar speaks to WION and says that she is really worried about what we as human beings are contributing to maintaining the natural vibrancy of our environment. Aparna Kumar made headlines by scaling Mount Denali in Alaska, USA, and with this climb, she became the first( IPS) Officer and DIG in (ITBP) to climb North America’s highest peak and also the first IPS officer to complete the Seven Summits Challenge ( challenge of climbing highest point in each of the 7 continents.) She also became the first woman IPS DIG and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) officer to complete the South Pole expedition. In an interview with WION's Ayushi Agarwal, Aparna Kumar said that we should worry about what is happening around us and start doing it at a very young age to keep our mountains/glaciers protected. Here are some excerpts of their conversations. WION- As a passionate mountaineer, you must be holding a very special place for ice and snow. How do you feel about hearing and reading the studies predicting that the ice is melting at a very steady rate? What is your take on being to such places? APARNA KUMAR- The drawback is completely visible. The places that I had visited is evidence of the fact that climate is changing and glaciers are receding at a very faster rate. But it depends on many factors. If you ask me about my experience, then I feel that I had seen many variations. For instance, when I went to Denali in late June, it was raining incessantly and snowing heavily. So it is all about variations. But yes, what we experience is because of the fact what we did in the past. The sudden change in climate is not an overnight variation, but it is our human activities that had led to such adversities and we must hold the onus. Reading studies about climate change and coming across such news and data bothers me. As a mountaineer, I see effects everywhere. It is more visible now than it was before. You can see more rock pieces now. Even our guides who have been climbing for 15 years have themselves witnessed this drastic change. The ice is melting at such a faster rate. This is unfortunate. WION- Climbers try hard to forge new routes to avoid litter and pollutants during climbing. Did you also witness litters and pollutants on your journey? What did you feel after witnessing such things? APARNA KUMAR- My experience in witnessing such pollutants has been different in every mountain that I had scaled up. To me, Mount Denali has been one of the cleanest mountains that I have climbed so far. The National park service makes a lot of effort in keeping the mountain clean. Also, we have some set rules, like we get clean mountain camps in which we have to stick. They give us polythene covers which are inserted into these clean mountain camps, also known as CMC's, and once they fill up, we have to replace the polythene with a new one so that we can use that and these again will be brought down to the base camp and then out of the glacier. These are all biodegradable polythene covers and Everything is brought down and nothing is left on the mountains. So, this is a very strict rule and these park rangers of National Park service keeps on monitoring if we are sticking to the rules or not. Hence my experience in terms of cleanliness had been amazing on Denali. If you ask me what I felt in the other mountains then I must say that apart from the Himalayas, every other mountain is very particular about keeping it clean. One way I suggest that we can contribute to keeping the pollutants/litters out is by government/association designing the policies and imposing strict rules to maintain the blessing that we have in such forms. WION - Climbing mountains are hit from climate disruption and global warming issues making things harder and deteriorating the natural vibrancy. How do you see this and what do you suggest on such cases as the process is slow and visible to the eyes of scientists? APARNA KUMAR - See, we need to be very serious towards protecting our environment at a very young age. In India, we lack behind many countries in terms of cleanliness and keeping natural gifts secure. Hence we need to do this right from the very basic level to the advanced. For example, even if is our own house, we try pushing the garbage towards our neighborhood without understanding the fact that the process would be coming back to us. So we need to be very conscious and should start becoming a responsible citizen. This is I believe should begin by targeting young people who very well know how to take care of their things. Also, our education in some forms should include serious issues in the environment. WION - In recent days, Everest and Nanda Devi have quite been in news. Be it for the bottlenecks in the peaks, body retrieval and plucking tonnes of garbage. What will you say about the traffic management? APARNA KUMAR - Adventure has now been very popular. Everyone wants to climb Everest and peaks. But we need to understand that not everyone can climb mountains. You need to be very serious about it. The traffic that has been on Everest is a very serious issue. It is because every year on Everest, there is an unlimited number of people scaling up who are inexperienced, not acclimatize to the weather conditions and are not serious about mountaineering. This results in their illness and also death. The extreme weather conditions on any mountain do not favour everyone resulting in getting them back, alive or dead which is not at all an easy nut to crack. So, we need to come up with strictest rules to avoid bottlenecks and adversities. Nanda Devi is again not so crowded. Very few people climb it because it is a very tough peak. The recent news that had come up was a freak accident and a natural calamity of an avalanche that killed all climbers. The only way to reduce such calamities is by following rules and reducing human activities. WION- You had recently made headlines by becoming the first IPS officer to reach the South Pole and now by scaling seven summits. Tell us more about your journey and how did you think of doing such arduous take? APARNA KUMAR- Yes, it was a very gradual and step by step process. I first started climbing smaller mountains like Kilimanjaro and then taking up to the higher. The journey started in 2013 when I was posted as the Commander of 9th battalion PAC. It used to take care of high altitudes of Uttarakhand along the Indo-Tibetan border. People used to tell me about their adventurous stories and their experiences on walking on snow and pulling their sledge full of luggage. It made me curious about attempting it. While my training began in 2013 when I did a basic mountaineering course from Manali. I was adjudged with A-grade, which made it possible for me to pursue an advanced mountaineering course which I completed in July 2014. The course made me eligible for expeditions. Shortly after, my training began. I knew I had to be physically and mentally strong as the task demands a lot of vigor. So before climbing up Everest, I had already climbed 7-8 peaks and then I thought of doing the Seven Summits. WION- How did you feel after unfurling the Indian Flag once you completed your seven summits? One message that you want to give? APARNA KUMAR- It was a big sense of relief because since past years, I have been trying hard to complete it but the extreme weather conditions sent me back home. This time I did it before the scheduled time. So in the end, it was very relieving and also I was happy in becoming the first one/Indian among my group of climbers to get it done in a foreign country. One message that I want to give is to hold the onus of our deeds. We should start taking our biodiversity very seriously otherwise one day, everything around us will perish!

Take biodiversity seriously otherwise one day everything will perish: Aparna Kumar, first IPS officer to complete 7 summits challenge to WION

The search for the eighth missing mountaineer was cancelled on Saturday due to bad weather, informed Pithoragarh official.

"Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) rescue team has successfully recovered bodies of seven mountaineers, who were hit by an avalanche near Nanda Devi in Uttarakhand. Today two sorties were carried out to search the eighth body, but it is not possible to continue right now due to bad weather," said VK Jogdande, DM Pithoragarh.

These tourists were hit by an avalanche on May 26 and were missing since then. The bodies were traced at an altitude of approximately 21,000 feet near the peak from where the mountaineers reportedly went missing.

They were on an expedition to a Nanda Devi East peak when they met the tragic fate.

A 10-member <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nanda-devi-indo-tibetan-border-police-recovers-7-bodies-of-foreign-tourists-229764">team of ITBP had dug out the seven bodies</a>, including that of a woman mountaineer, from under the snow.

The ITBP had launched search operation last week to search for the missing mountaineers in which 4 were British, 2 were Americans, and 1 each from Australia and India.

The attempt to rescue the trapped mountaineers from Nanda Devi East is named Operation Daredevil. Standing at a height of 7,816 metres, Nanda Devi is the second highest mountain in India and 23rd highest overall.

&nbsp;

The search for the eighth missing mountaineer was cancelled on Saturday due to bad weather, informed Pithoragarh official. "Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) rescue team has successfully recovered bodies of seven mountaineers, who were hit by an avalanche near Nanda Devi in Uttarakhand.

The search for the eighth missing mountaineer was cancelled on Saturday due to bad weather, informed Pithoragarh official. "Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) rescue team has successfully recovered bodies of seven mountaineers, who were hit by an avalanche near Nanda Devi in Uttarakhand. Today two sorties were carried out to search the eighth body, but it is not possible to continue right now due to bad weather," said VK Jogdande, DM Pithoragarh. These tourists were hit by an avalanche on May 26 and were missing since then. The bodies were traced at an altitude of approximately 21,000 feet near the peak from where the mountaineers reportedly went missing. They were on an expedition to a Nanda Devi East peak when they met the tragic fate. A 10-member team of ITBP had dug out the seven bodies, including that of a woman mountaineer, from under the snow. The ITBP had launched search operation last week to search for the missing mountaineers in which 4 were British, 2 were Americans, and 1 each from Australia and India. The attempt to rescue the trapped mountaineers from Nanda Devi East is named Operation Daredevil. Standing at a height of 7,816 metres, Nanda Devi is the second highest mountain in India and 23rd highest overall.

Nanda Devi: Search for eighth tourist cancelled due to bad weather

The large number of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-faces-mountainous-challenge-identifying-everest-bodies-225598">deaths of climbers on the Mount Everest</a> this season is not solely due to the "traffic jam" on the world's highest peak, the Nepal government claimed Thursday, citing factors like high altitude sickness, other health reasons and adverse weather.

The number of deaths on Mt Everest was put at 11 by the international media, making it the deadliest season since 2015. However, the Nepal tourism ministry maintained the death toll at 9.

Four Indians died on the 8,848-metres high Mt Everest and two each died on Mt. Kangchenjunga and Mt. Makalu, bringing the total death toll of Indian climbers in the Himalayas to 8.

"Our attention has been drawn to the wrong information about deaths on Mt Everest conveyed by national and international media," said Dandu Raj Ghimire, Director General of the Department of Tourism (DoT), adding that "traffic jam" did not cause the deaths.

A 'Traffic jam' occurs when many climbers vie for the summit at the same time and can be especially dangerous above 8,000 metres known as the 'death zone'

The DoT's statement has come at a time when it is facing immense criticism for issuing too many permits to scale the world's tallest peak while disregarding the safety of the climbers, reports The Himalayan Times.

According to Ghimire, the post-mortem reports of the deceased climbers have shown that they died due to high altitude sickness, weakness or adverse weather conditions.

In the statement, the DoT has stated that it had issued 366 expedition permits in 2017 and 346 expedition permits in 2018 - not a huge difference compared to 381 permits issued this year for the highest peak.

"Hence, it untrue that congestion killed climbers on Mt Everest and we urge everyone not to be swayed by false information," the statement added.

Ghimire also expressed his dissatisfaction at the dissemination of such "wrong" information in the international media.

"Such false news tarnishes our image and affects our mountaineering sector. Therefore, everyone should think twice before passing such misleading messages in the international platform," he added.

More than 200 mountaineers have died on the peak since 1922 when the first climbers' deaths on Mt Everest were recorded.

The majority of bodies are believed to have remained buried under glaciers or snow.

Five people died on Mt Everest in 2018.

In 2016 and 2017, the world's tallest peak claimed lives of six and five climbers respectively.

In 2015, quake-triggered avalanches killed 20 climbers.

Hundreds of climbers flock each year to Nepal - home to several of the world's highest mountains, to scale Himalayan peaks during the spring season that begins around March and ends in June.

According to Nepal Department of Tourism, more than 4,400 people have scaled the summit since Edmund Hilary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay first conquered the mountain in 1953.&nbsp;

The large number of deaths of climbers on the Mount Everest this season is not solely due to the "traffic jam" on the world's highest peak, the Nepal government claimed Thursday, citing factors like high altitude sickness, other health reasons and adverse weather.

The large number of deaths of climbers on the Mount Everest this season is not solely due to the "traffic jam" on the world's highest peak, the Nepal government claimed Thursday, citing factors like high altitude sickness, other health reasons and adverse weather. The number of deaths on Mt Everest was put at 11 by the international media, making it the deadliest season since 2015. However, the Nepal tourism ministry maintained the death toll at 9. Four Indians died on the 8,848-metres high Mt Everest and two each died on Mt. Kangchenjunga and Mt. Makalu, bringing the total death toll of Indian climbers in the Himalayas to 8. "Our attention has been drawn to the wrong information about deaths on Mt Everest conveyed by national and international media," said Dandu Raj Ghimire, Director General of the Department of Tourism (DoT), adding that "traffic jam" did not cause the deaths. A 'Traffic jam' occurs when many climbers vie for the summit at the same time and can be especially dangerous above 8,000 metres known as the 'death zone' The DoT's statement has come at a time when it is facing immense criticism for issuing too many permits to scale the world's tallest peak while disregarding the safety of the climbers, reports The Himalayan Times. According to Ghimire, the post-mortem reports of the deceased climbers have shown that they died due to high altitude sickness, weakness or adverse weather conditions. In the statement, the DoT has stated that it had issued 366 expedition permits in 2017 and 346 expedition permits in 2018 - not a huge difference compared to 381 permits issued this year for the highest peak. "Hence, it untrue that congestion killed climbers on Mt Everest and we urge everyone not to be swayed by false information," the statement added. Ghimire also expressed his dissatisfaction at the dissemination of such "wrong" information in the international media. "Such false news tarnishes our image and affects our mountaineering sector. Therefore, everyone should think twice before passing such misleading messages in the international platform," he added. More than 200 mountaineers have died on the peak since 1922 when the first climbers' deaths on Mt Everest were recorded. The majority of bodies are believed to have remained buried under glaciers or snow. Five people died on Mt Everest in 2018. In 2016 and 2017, the world's tallest peak claimed lives of six and five climbers respectively. In 2015, quake-triggered avalanches killed 20 climbers. Hundreds of climbers flock each year to Nepal - home to several of the world's highest mountains, to scale Himalayan peaks during the spring season that begins around March and ends in June. According to Nepal Department of Tourism, more than 4,400 people have scaled the summit since Edmund Hilary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay first conquered the mountain in 1953.

Congestion alone did not kill climbers on Mount Everest: Nepal government

A British mountaineer has urged Nepal to limit the permits to scale the Mount Everest, keeping in view the carrying capacity of the mountain that saw 11 deaths this climbing season, the deadliest since 2015.

Doug Scott, who has made 45 expeditions to the high mountains of Asia, warned that the Himalayas is no more a place for peace and solitude.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

"Limitation should be imposed in issuing permission for mountaineers keeping in view the carrying capacity of the mountains," he said at the opening of the third-edition of Himalayan Travel Mart 2019, a four-day event to promote Nepal as the gateway to the Himalayas and centre for adventure tourism.

Scott, a veteran climber, has reached the summit of 40 peaks. Apart from his climb up the South West Face of Everest in 1975, he has made all his climbs in lightweight or Alpine Style, without the use of artificial oxygen.&nbsp;

Scott's request to the Nepal government came after the Himalayan nation this year witnessed 11 deaths, the highest in four years. Four Indian climbers were among the 11 deaths at the Mount Everest this season.&nbsp;

Following this, there is a ragging debate whether Nepal should limit the permits to prevent dangerous overcrowding on the 8,848-metres Mount Everest.

Nepal issued a record 381 permits costing $ 11,000 each for the current spring climbing season. It opened the climbing route to the world's highest peak on May 14.

Nepal authorities recently removed a total of 11,000 kg garbage and four dead bodies during a two-month long cleanliness drive from the mountain and below the used by the climbers.&nbsp;

The garbage, which included empty oxygen cylinders, plastic bottles, cans, batteries, food wrappings, faecal matter and kitchen waste, was flown to Kathmandu in army helicopters from the Everest base camp.&nbsp;

A British mountaineer has urged Nepal to limit the permits to scale the Mount Everest, keeping in view the carrying capacity of the mountain that saw 11 deaths this climbing season, the deadliest since 2015.

A British mountaineer has urged Nepal to limit the permits to scale the Mount Everest, keeping in view the carrying capacity of the mountain that saw 11 deaths this climbing season, the deadliest since 2015. Doug Scott, who has made 45 expeditions to the high mountains of Asia, warned that the Himalayas is no more a place for peace and solitude. "Limitation should be imposed in issuing permission for mountaineers keeping in view the carrying capacity of the mountains," he said at the opening of the third-edition of Himalayan Travel Mart 2019, a four-day event to promote Nepal as the gateway to the Himalayas and centre for adventure tourism. Scott, a veteran climber, has reached the summit of 40 peaks. Apart from his climb up the South West Face of Everest in 1975, he has made all his climbs in lightweight or Alpine Style, without the use of artificial oxygen. Scott's request to the Nepal government came after the Himalayan nation this year witnessed 11 deaths, the highest in four years. Four Indian climbers were among the 11 deaths at the Mount Everest this season. Following this, there is a ragging debate whether Nepal should limit the permits to prevent dangerous overcrowding on the 8,848-metres Mount Everest. Nepal issued a record 381 permits costing $ 11,000 each for the current spring climbing season. It opened the climbing route to the world's highest peak on May 14. Nepal authorities recently removed a total of 11,000 kg garbage and four dead bodies during a two-month long cleanliness drive from the mountain and below the used by the climbers. The garbage, which included empty oxygen cylinders, plastic bottles, cans, batteries, food wrappings, faecal matter and kitchen waste, was flown to Kathmandu in army helicopters from the Everest base camp.

Nepal government urged to limit climbing permissions to Everest

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-relocates-staff-from-sudan-death-toll-rises-to-108-224799">UN relocates staff from Sudan, death toll rises to 108</a>

The United Nations is moving some of its staff from Sudan, a spokeswoman said Wednesday, as the&nbsp;death toll from a crackdown on protesters soared to more than 100.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/4-bodies-11-tonne-garbage-collected-in-mount-everest-clean-up-operation-224812">4 bodies, 11 tonne garbage picked in Mount Everest clean-up operation</a>

Nepali climbers have retrieved four bodies and collected some&nbsp;11 tonnes of decades-old garbage&nbsp;from Mount Everest and its approach below the base camp as part of a drive to clean up the world's highest mountain, the government said on Wednesday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/global-terrorist-hafiz-saeed-not-allowed-to-lead-eid-prayers-at-his-favourite-venue-in-lahore-224810">Global terrorist Hafiz Saeed not allowed to lead Eid prayers at his 'favourite' venue in Lahore</a>

For the first time in years, Mumbai attack mastermind and Jammat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief&nbsp;Hafiz Saeed&nbsp;was not allowed by the government on Wednesday to lead Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at his favourite venue Qaddafi Stadium here, an official said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thailands-parliament-elects-coup-leader-prayut-chan-ocha-as-prime-minister-224805">Thailand's Parliament elects coup leader Prayut Chan-ocha as prime minister</a>

Thailand's junta chief Prayut Chan-ocha&nbsp;was elected late on Wednesday as the kingdom's first civilian prime minister since the 2014 coup he led, in a vote by a parliament stacked with appointed allies of the&nbsp;conservative, arch-royalist army.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/danish-centre-left-opposition-wins-election-on-welfare-pledges-224808">Danish centre-left opposition wins election on welfare pledges</a>

Denmark appeared set to become the third Nordic country in a year to form a leftist government as voters in Wednesday`s&nbsp;parliamentary election&nbsp;rebelled against austerity measures and dealt a blow to right-wing nationalists.

UN relocates staff from Sudan, death toll rises to 108 The United Nations is moving some of its staff from Sudan, a spokeswoman said Wednesday, as the death toll from a crackdown on protesters soared to more than 100.

UN relocates staff from Sudan, death toll rises to 108 The United Nations is moving some of its staff from Sudan, a spokeswoman said Wednesday, as the death toll from a crackdown on protesters soared to more than 100. 4 bodies, 11 tonne garbage picked in Mount Everest clean-up operation Nepali climbers have retrieved four bodies and collected some 11 tonnes of decades-old garbage from Mount Everest and its approach below the base camp as part of a drive to clean up the world's highest mountain, the government said on Wednesday. Global terrorist Hafiz Saeed not allowed to lead Eid prayers at his 'favourite' venue in Lahore For the first time in years, Mumbai attack mastermind and Jammat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed was not allowed by the government on Wednesday to lead Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at his favourite venue Qaddafi Stadium here, an official said. Thailand's Parliament elects coup leader Prayut Chan-ocha as prime minister Thailand's junta chief Prayut Chan-ocha was elected late on Wednesday as the kingdom's first civilian prime minister since the 2014 coup he led, in a vote by a parliament stacked with appointed allies of the conservative, arch-royalist army. Danish centre-left opposition wins election on welfare pledges Denmark appeared set to become the third Nordic country in a year to form a leftist government as voters in Wednesday`s parliamentary election rebelled against austerity measures and dealt a blow to right-wing nationalists.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Nepal Government has found 4 more dead bodies and 11 tonnes of garbage on the Mount Everest. Watch this video to know more.

11 tonnes of garbage found on Everest

Operation Daredevils, the Indian Air Force mission to retrieve&nbsp;the mortal remains of&nbsp;<a href="Eight climbers - four from Britain, two from the United States, and one each from Australia and India - were reported missing last Friday after they failed to return to their base camp near Nanda Devi, India's second highest mountain.">missing foreign tourists</a>&nbsp;from the Nanda Devi base camp&nbsp;was halted on Wednesday due to terrain elevations and limitations of the helicopter.

The IAF helicopter was back in Pithoragarh, Uttrakhand after three failed attempts due to height.&nbsp;

The authorities are now deliberating on the next strategy for the mission.

The operation was joined by 4 ITBP trekkers and 5 Air Force personnel who took off from Munsyari today at 5 am in an ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter).

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Uttarakhand:4 highly trained mountaineers of ITBP to be heli-dropped by IAF chopper at 18,000-20,000 feet near Nanda Devi East. One ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) took off from Pithoragarh today at 5 AM to join search op of missing foreign tourists at Nanda Devi Base Camp <a href="https://t.co/UFaUDRDzcb">pic.twitter.com/UFaUDRDzcb</a>
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Eight mountaineers, including from the US, the UK and Australia, were reported missing after they left Munsiyari on May 13 to scale the peak, but did not return to the base camp on the scheduled date of May 25.&nbsp;

The team was led by British mountaineer Martin Moran to the 7,434-metre peak.

It was a twelve-member group and four of them were rescued on Sunday.

IAF choppers spotted five bodies on Monday during their second day of aerial search.

The missing mountaineers comprised seven from the UK, the US and Australia, and a liaison officer from Delhi's Indian Mountaineering Foundation.

They have been identified as team leader Martin Moran, members John McLaren, Richard Payne, Rupert Havel (from the UK); Anthony Sudekum and Rachel Bimmel (from the US); Ruth Macrain (from Australia); and liaison officer Chetan Pandey.

More than 20 people have been killed in the mountains, including 11 on Mount Everest, the world`s highest peak that has been plagued by poor weather, inexperienced climbers and overcrowding.

Nanda Devi, at 7,816 metres (25,643 feet), and its sister mountain, Nanda Devi East, are among the world's most challenging peaks and only a handful of people have climbed them.

(With inputs from agencies)

Operation Daredevils, the Indian Air Force mission to retrieve the mortal remains of missing foreign tourists from the Nanda Devi base camp was halted on Wednesday due to terrain elevations and limitations of the helicopter.

Operation Daredevils, the Indian Air Force mission to retrieve the mortal remains of missing foreign tourists from the Nanda Devi base camp was halted on Wednesday due to terrain elevations and limitations of the helicopter. The IAF helicopter was back in Pithoragarh, Uttrakhand after three failed attempts due to height. The authorities are now deliberating on the next strategy for the mission. The operation was joined by 4 ITBP trekkers and 5 Air Force personnel who took off from Munsyari today at 5 am in an ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter). #WATCH Uttarakhand:4 highly trained mountaineers of ITBP to be heli-dropped by IAF chopper at 18,000-20,000 feet near Nanda Devi East. One ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) took off from Pithoragarh today at 5 AM to join search op of missing foreign tourists at Nanda Devi Base Camp pic.twitter.com/UFaUDRDzcb — ANI (@ANI) June 5, 2019 × Eight mountaineers, including from the US, the UK and Australia, were reported missing after they left Munsiyari on May 13 to scale the peak, but did not return to the base camp on the scheduled date of May 25. The team was led by British mountaineer Martin Moran to the 7,434-metre peak. It was a twelve-member group and four of them were rescued on Sunday. IAF choppers spotted five bodies on Monday during their second day of aerial search. The missing mountaineers comprised seven from the UK, the US and Australia, and a liaison officer from Delhi's Indian Mountaineering Foundation. They have been identified as team leader Martin Moran, members John McLaren, Richard Payne, Rupert Havel (from the UK); Anthony Sudekum and Rachel Bimmel (from the US); Ruth Macrain (from Australia); and liaison officer Chetan Pandey. More than 20 people have been killed in the mountains, including 11 on Mount Everest, the world`s highest peak that has been plagued by poor weather, inexperienced climbers and overcrowding. Nanda Devi, at 7,816 metres (25,643 feet), and its sister mountain, Nanda Devi East, are among the world's most challenging peaks and only a handful of people have climbed them. (With inputs from agencies)

Mission to recover climbers' bodies from Nanda Devi hampered by technical problems

Under pressure after a deadly season on traffic-clogged Mount Everest, Nepal is considering tightening access to the world's highest peak, but mountaineering experts fear the proposed changes could amount to little more than lip service. &nbsp;

Eleven people died during the climbing season that ended this week, as record numbers lined the route to the summit. Although overcrowding was blamed for at least four deaths, many say inexperience is a bigger killer.

"People who know nothing of climbing, never been on a mountain, came and tried to climb Everest," Chilean mountaineer Juan Pablo Mohr told AFP after returning to Kathmandu.

"A lot of people didn't know how to put (on) crampons or (use) the fixed ropes," he said, adding they relied on an army of sherpas or Nepali guides to help them accomplish such basic tasks.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/whats-behind-the-spike-in-deaths-on-mount-everest-223460">What's behind the spike in deaths on Mount Everest?</a>

For years, Kathmandu has issued permits to anyone willing to pay $11,000, regardless of whether they are rookie climbers or skilled mountaineers.

But after a devastating spring season, officials told AFP they are considering imposing more restrictions.

"We are looking into having a minimum requirement for climbers, fixing more ropes or taking more oxygen and sherpas," said Mohan Krishna Sapkota, secretary at Nepal's tourism ministry.

For veteran mountaineers, the announcement of new rules amounts to little more than a futile annual exercise -- with the government each year promising tougher measures that fail to materialise by the following spring.

'Just stupid words'

Russell Brice, whose company Himalayan Experience (Himex) has been organising Everest expeditions for decades, told AFP his meetings with government officials over the years had left him in no doubt about their indifference towards the industry.

"The ministry is in denial of overcrowding, of issuing too many permits, not checking what people are doing and so on," Brice said.

"It is just stupid words," he said, adding, "they are not interested."

In 2014, Kathmandu said it would double the number of fixed ropes near the summit to prevent traffic jams.

It never happened.

The government also said it would station soldiers and police at Everest base camp for assistance. An AFP visit to the area in 2015 revealed no such deployment.

Unlike Tibet, which caps the number of Everest climbers at 300, there are no limits on the Nepali side, making for an exceedingly profitable -- and dangerous -- business.

As cheaper operators have entered the fray, the number of climbers has shot up, creating deadly bottlenecks en-route to the top of the 8,848-metre (29,029-feet) peak -- especially when bad weather cuts the number of summit days, as it did this year.

Phurba Tenjing Sherpa, who has guided clients on Everest for over a decade, told AFP one of the climbers who died should never have been allowed to go up, given her excessively slow pace.

But the woman, who was in her fifties, "would not listen" because she had paid the fee and wanted to see the summit, he said.&nbsp;

"Such climbers are increasing on Everest. They force us, they want to climb no matter what. Their stubbornness is killing people on the mountain," he said.

Rush to profits

The situation has deteriorated to such a degree that Nepal's Mountaineering Association, which represents operators, is lobbying the government for stricter rules. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The association's president, Santa Bir Lama, told AFP the high number of deaths this year was due to the increased presence of inexperienced climbers.

"Climbers should be self-reliant. It would be best if there is a criteria set for issuing permits," he said.

For years after Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made the first ascent of Everest in 1953, access to the world's most famous peak was a rare prize, offered only to solo mountaineers charting new routes or to climbers belonging to national teams or boasting major sponsorship deals.

But after Nepal scrapped its limit in the 1990s, operators have crowded the slopes for a slice of the multi-million dollar industry.

This year, the Himalayan nation made around $4 million from Everest permits alone.

"It is nice to see this income," Himex's Brice said.

But he warned the rush to reap profits was "detracting from the major attraction of Nepal, which is Mount Everest".

"If we ruin that business, it's going to have long-term effects".

Under pressure after a deadly season on traffic-clogged Mount Everest, Nepal is considering tightening access to the world's highest peak, but mountaineering experts fear the proposed changes could amount to little more than lip service.

Under pressure after a deadly season on traffic-clogged Mount Everest, Nepal is considering tightening access to the world's highest peak, but mountaineering experts fear the proposed changes could amount to little more than lip service. Eleven people died during the climbing season that ended this week, as record numbers lined the route to the summit. Although overcrowding was blamed for at least four deaths, many say inexperience is a bigger killer. "People who know nothing of climbing, never been on a mountain, came and tried to climb Everest," Chilean mountaineer Juan Pablo Mohr told AFP after returning to Kathmandu. "A lot of people didn't know how to put (on) crampons or (use) the fixed ropes," he said, adding they relied on an army of sherpas or Nepali guides to help them accomplish such basic tasks. Also read: What's behind the spike in deaths on Mount Everest? For years, Kathmandu has issued permits to anyone willing to pay $11,000, regardless of whether they are rookie climbers or skilled mountaineers. But after a devastating spring season, officials told AFP they are considering imposing more restrictions. "We are looking into having a minimum requirement for climbers, fixing more ropes or taking more oxygen and sherpas," said Mohan Krishna Sapkota, secretary at Nepal's tourism ministry. For veteran mountaineers, the announcement of new rules amounts to little more than a futile annual exercise -- with the government each year promising tougher measures that fail to materialise by the following spring. 'Just stupid words' Russell Brice, whose company Himalayan Experience (Himex) has been organising Everest expeditions for decades, told AFP his meetings with government officials over the years had left him in no doubt about their indifference towards the industry. "The ministry is in denial of overcrowding, of issuing too many permits, not checking what people are doing and so on," Brice said. "It is just stupid words," he said, adding, "they are not interested." In 2014, Kathmandu said it would double the number of fixed ropes near the summit to prevent traffic jams. It never happened. The government also said it would station soldiers and police at Everest base camp for assistance. An AFP visit to the area in 2015 revealed no such deployment. Unlike Tibet, which caps the number of Everest climbers at 300, there are no limits on the Nepali side, making for an exceedingly profitable -- and dangerous -- business. As cheaper operators have entered the fray, the number of climbers has shot up, creating deadly bottlenecks en-route to the top of the 8,848-metre (29,029-feet) peak -- especially when bad weather cuts the number of summit days, as it did this year. Phurba Tenjing Sherpa, who has guided clients on Everest for over a decade, told AFP one of the climbers who died should never have been allowed to go up, given her excessively slow pace. But the woman, who was in her fifties, "would not listen" because she had paid the fee and wanted to see the summit, he said. "Such climbers are increasing on Everest. They force us, they want to climb no matter what. Their stubbornness is killing people on the mountain," he said. Rush to profits The situation has deteriorated to such a degree that Nepal's Mountaineering Association, which represents operators, is lobbying the government for stricter rules. The association's president, Santa Bir Lama, told AFP the high number of deaths this year was due to the increased presence of inexperienced climbers. "Climbers should be self-reliant. It would be best if there is a criteria set for issuing permits," he said. For years after Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made the first ascent of Everest in 1953, access to the world's most famous peak was a rare prize, offered only to solo mountaineers charting new routes or to climbers belonging to national teams or boasting major sponsorship deals. But after Nepal scrapped its limit in the 1990s, operators have crowded the slopes for a slice of the multi-million dollar industry. This year, the Himalayan nation made around $4 million from Everest permits alone. "It is nice to see this income," Himex's Brice said. But he warned the rush to reap profits was "detracting from the major attraction of Nepal, which is Mount Everest". "If we ruin that business, it's going to have long-term effects".

Nepal may limit access to Everest after mountaineering deaths

Authorities will likely take at least 10 days to recover the bodies of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bodies-of-8-mountaineers-who-went-missing-in-nanda-devi-spotted-223885">a group of climbers feared killed</a> in an avalanche high in the Himalayas, government and police officials said on Wednesday.

The eight climbers - four from Britain, two from the United States, and one each from Australia and India - were reported missing last Friday after they failed to return to their base camp near Nanda Devi, India`s second highest mountain.

An Indian Air Force helicopter on Monday spotted five bodies partially buried in snow high on a mountain slope.

The status of the other three climbers is not known, but officials have said the possibility of their survival is remote, and their bodies are likely to be near the five who had been spotted.

The recovery mission began early on Wednesday but was halted after encountering technical problems, officials said.

Another survey by air will be made this week to find a way to reach the bodies or a team will be sent on foot, but they will need time to acclimatise, officials said.

"It will take at least 10 days to remove the bodies," said Vijay Kumar Jogdande, the top government official in the remote mountain area.

"No bodies have so far been recovered from the three initial sorties this morning," he said earlier.

The climbers were attempting to scale an unnamed, previously unclimbed 6,477 metre (21,250 feet) peak near Nanda Devi when their route was hit by a "sizeable avalanche", the company that organised the expedition, Moran Mountain, said earlier.

Jogdande said the location of the bodies suggested that they may have changed course and taken a route they had not initially planned.

The paramilitary Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force is leading the mission to bring the bodies to the town of Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand state.

It has been one of the deadliest climbing seasons in the Himalayas for several years.

More than 20 people have been killed in the mountains, including 11 on Mount Everest, the world`s highest peak that has seen several fatalities in 2019 due to poor weather conditions, inexperienced climbers and overcrowding.

Nanda Devi, at 7,816 metres (25,643 feet), and its sister mountain, Nanda Devi East, are among the world`s most challenging peaks and only a handful of people have climbed them. 
&nbsp;

Authorities will likely take at least 10 days to recover the bodies of a group of climbers feared killed in an avalanche high in the Himalayas, government and police officials said on Wednesday.

Authorities will likely take at least 10 days to recover the bodies of a group of climbers feared killed in an avalanche high in the Himalayas, government and police officials said on Wednesday. The eight climbers - four from Britain, two from the United States, and one each from Australia and India - were reported missing last Friday after they failed to return to their base camp near Nanda Devi, India`s second highest mountain. An Indian Air Force helicopter on Monday spotted five bodies partially buried in snow high on a mountain slope. The status of the other three climbers is not known, but officials have said the possibility of their survival is remote, and their bodies are likely to be near the five who had been spotted. The recovery mission began early on Wednesday but was halted after encountering technical problems, officials said. Another survey by air will be made this week to find a way to reach the bodies or a team will be sent on foot, but they will need time to acclimatise, officials said. "It will take at least 10 days to remove the bodies," said Vijay Kumar Jogdande, the top government official in the remote mountain area. "No bodies have so far been recovered from the three initial sorties this morning," he said earlier. The climbers were attempting to scale an unnamed, previously unclimbed 6,477 metre (21,250 feet) peak near Nanda Devi when their route was hit by a "sizeable avalanche", the company that organised the expedition, Moran Mountain, said earlier. Jogdande said the location of the bodies suggested that they may have changed course and taken a route they had not initially planned. The paramilitary Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force is leading the mission to bring the bodies to the town of Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand state. It has been one of the deadliest climbing seasons in the Himalayas for several years. More than 20 people have been killed in the mountains, including 11 on Mount Everest, the world`s highest peak that has seen several fatalities in 2019 due to poor weather conditions, inexperienced climbers and overcrowding. Nanda Devi, at 7,816 metres (25,643 feet), and its sister mountain, Nanda Devi East, are among the world`s most challenging peaks and only a handful of people have climbed them.

Mission to recover climbers' bodies from Nanda Devi could take 10 days or more

What's behind the spike in deaths on Mount Everest?

Overcrowding on Mount Everest has taken another life. So far 11 people have died. Crowds of climbers have been stuck in a queue to the summit. Watch the full report from Gravitas.

Gravitas: "Traffic Jam" On Mount Everest Takes 11 Lives

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/time-magazine-does-an-about-face-from-divider-in-chief-to-modi-has-united-india-222490">Time magazine does an about-face: From 'Divider in Chief' to 'Modi has united India'</a>

Weeks after Time magazine featured Narendra Modi on the cover of its international edition with a controversial headline, it has now run an article that says no prime minister has united India in decades the way he has done.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-to-stay-on-fatfs-grey-list-official-to-wion-222508">Pakistan to stay on FATF's grey list: Official to WION</a>

Pakistan is certain to stay on the grey list in the next meet of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an official from FATF member countries told WION on Wednesday.

FATF which looks into money laundering and terrorism financing will meet from June 16 to 21 in Orlando, Florida.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-mountaineer-ravindra-kumar-speaks-to-wion-explains-why-everest-has-turned-into-death-zone-222486">Indian mountaineer Ravindra Kumar speaks to WION, explains why Everest has turned into 'death zone'</a>

With reports of over 10 people killed recently while trying to scale the world highest peak, Mount Everest, global interest mounts around the ambitious expedition, the traffic on the peak and why has it turned into a 'death zone'.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-to-work-closely-with-great-ally-india-state-department-spokesperson-222484">US to work closely with 'great ally' India: State Department spokesperson</a>

India is a "great ally" and "partner" of the US and the Trump administration will work closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his second term on a range of issues, a senior State Department official said Tuesday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mamata-banerjee-wont-attend-modis-swearing-in-says-bjp-using-occasion-to-scare-political-points-222479">Mamata Banerjee won't attend Modi's swearing-in, says BJP using occasion to score political points</a>

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is not going to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief announced her decision in a tweet on Wednesday, accusing the BJP of making false claims about political violence in Bengal.

Time magazine does an about-face: From 'Divider in Chief' to 'Modi has united India' Weeks after Time magazine featured Narendra Modi on the cover of its international edition with a controversial headline, it has now run an article that says no prime minister has united India in decades the way he has done.

Time magazine does an about-face: From 'Divider in Chief' to 'Modi has united India' Weeks after Time magazine featured Narendra Modi on the cover of its international edition with a controversial headline, it has now run an article that says no prime minister has united India in decades the way he has done. Pakistan to stay on FATF's grey list: Official to WION Pakistan is certain to stay on the grey list in the next meet of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an official from FATF member countries told WION on Wednesday. FATF which looks into money laundering and terrorism financing will meet from June 16 to 21 in Orlando, Florida. Indian mountaineer Ravindra Kumar speaks to WION, explains why Everest has turned into 'death zone' With reports of over 10 people killed recently while trying to scale the world highest peak, Mount Everest, global interest mounts around the ambitious expedition, the traffic on the peak and why has it turned into a 'death zone'. US to work closely with 'great ally' India: State Department spokesperson India is a "great ally" and "partner" of the US and the Trump administration will work closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his second term on a range of issues, a senior State Department official said Tuesday. Mamata Banerjee won't attend Modi's swearing-in, says BJP using occasion to score political points West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is not going to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief announced her decision in a tweet on Wednesday, accusing the BJP of making false claims about political violence in Bengal.

The toll at the world's tallest peak Mount Everest has touched at 11. Problem isn't just with the bad weather, avalanches or other challenges, but it is about overcrowding and also lack of experience which has led quite of people losing their life. Watch this video to know more.

'Human Traffic Jam' atop Mount Everest claimed 11 lives this season

Ameesha Chauhan, a survivor of the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/traffic-jam-on-everest-as-two-more-climbers-die-reaching-summit-221113"> Everest "traffic jam" </a>who is in the hospital recovering from frostbite, said climbers without basic skills should be barred to prevent a recurrence of this year's deadly season on the world's highest peak.

Ten people have died in little more than two weeks after poor weather cut the climbing window, leaving mountaineers waiting in long queues to the summit, risking exhaustion and running out of oxygen.&nbsp;

Nepal issued a record 381 Everest permits this season, and several hundred of the summiteers are not properly trained, take poor decisions and "put their own life in risk and also the Sherpa guides", Chauhan said.&nbsp;

The 29-year-old Indian had to wait 20 minutes to come down from the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) peak, but others were held up for hours.

"I saw some climbers without basic skills fully relying on their Sherpa guides. The government should fix the qualification criteria," she told AFP in Kathmandu's general hospital, all the toes on her left foot black and blue and her face weather-worn.

"Only trained climbers should be granted the permit to climb Everest."

As well as the Everest deaths, nine climbers have died on other 8,000-metre Himalayan peaks, while one is missing.

Watch: The world's highest dumping ground; the garbage trail up Everest

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At least four deaths on the world's highest mountain have been blamed on over-crowding with teams waiting sometimes for hours in the "death zone" where the cold is bitter, the air dangerously thin and the terrain treacherous.

This year's Everest toll is the highest since 2014-15 when huge earthquakes triggered devastating avalanches.

The crowding was laid bare in a photo taken last week by Nirmal Purja, a former Gurkha soldier, of a long queue of climbers snaking up to the summit.

The photo by the head of the Project Possible charity aiming to climb the 14 8,000 metre-plus peaks in the world in seven months has gone viral from his @nimsdai Twitter handle and highlighted the dangers amidst the mania to climb Everest.

"Many climbers' oxygen was running out," Chauhan said.&nbsp;

"Some climbers died due to their own negligence. They insisted on reaching the top even if their oxygen is running out, which risks their life," she said.

Another climber, the "adventure filmmaker" Elia Saikaly, posted on Instagram on Sunday that he had reached the summit of Everest and "cannot believe what I saw up there".

"Death. Carnage. Chaos. Lineups. Dead bodies on the route and in tents at camp 4. People who I tried to turn back who ended up dying. People being dragged down. Walking over bodies," Saikaly wrote.

"Everything you read in the sensational headlines all played out on our summit night."

$11,000 ticket&nbsp;

Mountaineering has become big business since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made the first ascent of Everest in 1953, with the mountain becoming a favourite "bucket list" feat.

Nepal's permits this season cost $11,000 each, providing the impoverished Himalayan country with much-needed foreign currency.&nbsp;

At least 140 others were granted permits to climb from the northern flank in Tibet.

Although final numbers are yet to be released with the season set to wrap up this week, this could take the total past last year's record of 807 people reaching the summit.

The dead included four climbers from India and one each from the United States, Britain and Nepal. An Irish mountaineer is presumed dead after he slipped and fell close to the summit.

Another Austrian and an Irish climber died on the northern Tibet side.

One of the Indians who died on the Nepal side, 27-year-old Nihal Bagwan, had to wait for more than 12 hours and died on his way back from the summit.

Donald Lynn Cash, 55, collapsed at the summit as he was taking photographs, while Anjali Kulkarni, also 55, died while descending after reaching the top.

Kulkarni's expedition organiser, Arun Treks, said heavy traffic at the summit had delayed her descent and caused the tragedy.

"She had to wait for a long time to reach the summit and descend," said Thupden Sherpa. "She couldn't move down on her own and died as Sherpa guides brought her down.

Watch: Three Indian climbers died due to traffic jam on Mt. Everest

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&nbsp;

Ameesha Chauhan, a survivor of the Everest "traffic jam" who is in the hospital recovering from frostbite, said climbers without basic skills should be barred to prevent a recurrence of this year's deadly season on the world's highest peak.

Ameesha Chauhan, a survivor of the Everest "traffic jam" who is in the hospital recovering from frostbite, said climbers without basic skills should be barred to prevent a recurrence of this year's deadly season on the world's highest peak. Ten people have died in little more than two weeks after poor weather cut the climbing window, leaving mountaineers waiting in long queues to the summit, risking exhaustion and running out of oxygen. Nepal issued a record 381 Everest permits this season, and several hundred of the summiteers are not properly trained, take poor decisions and "put their own life in risk and also the Sherpa guides", Chauhan said. The 29-year-old Indian had to wait 20 minutes to come down from the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) peak, but others were held up for hours. "I saw some climbers without basic skills fully relying on their Sherpa guides. The government should fix the qualification criteria," she told AFP in Kathmandu's general hospital, all the toes on her left foot black and blue and her face weather-worn. "Only trained climbers should be granted the permit to climb Everest." As well as the Everest deaths, nine climbers have died on other 8,000-metre Himalayan peaks, while one is missing. Watch: The world's highest dumping ground; the garbage trail up Everest × At least four deaths on the world's highest mountain have been blamed on over-crowding with teams waiting sometimes for hours in the "death zone" where the cold is bitter, the air dangerously thin and the terrain treacherous. This year's Everest toll is the highest since 2014-15 when huge earthquakes triggered devastating avalanches. The crowding was laid bare in a photo taken last week by Nirmal Purja, a former Gurkha soldier, of a long queue of climbers snaking up to the summit. The photo by the head of the Project Possible charity aiming to climb the 14 8,000 metre-plus peaks in the world in seven months has gone viral from his @nimsdai Twitter handle and highlighted the dangers amidst the mania to climb Everest. "Many climbers' oxygen was running out," Chauhan said. "Some climbers died due to their own negligence. They insisted on reaching the top even if their oxygen is running out, which risks their life," she said. Another climber, the "adventure filmmaker" Elia Saikaly, posted on Instagram on Sunday that he had reached the summit of Everest and "cannot believe what I saw up there". "Death. Carnage. Chaos. Lineups. Dead bodies on the route and in tents at camp 4. People who I tried to turn back who ended up dying. People being dragged down. Walking over bodies," Saikaly wrote. "Everything you read in the sensational headlines all played out on our summit night." $11,000 ticket Mountaineering has become big business since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made the first ascent of Everest in 1953, with the mountain becoming a favourite "bucket list" feat. Nepal's permits this season cost $11,000 each, providing the impoverished Himalayan country with much-needed foreign currency. At least 140 others were granted permits to climb from the northern flank in Tibet. Although final numbers are yet to be released with the season set to wrap up this week, this could take the total past last year's record of 807 people reaching the summit. The dead included four climbers from India and one each from the United States, Britain and Nepal. An Irish mountaineer is presumed dead after he slipped and fell close to the summit. Another Austrian and an Irish climber died on the northern Tibet side. One of the Indians who died on the Nepal side, 27-year-old Nihal Bagwan, had to wait for more than 12 hours and died on his way back from the summit. Donald Lynn Cash, 55, collapsed at the summit as he was taking photographs, while Anjali Kulkarni, also 55, died while descending after reaching the top. Kulkarni's expedition organiser, Arun Treks, said heavy traffic at the summit had delayed her descent and caused the tragedy. "She had to wait for a long time to reach the summit and descend," said Thupden Sherpa. "She couldn't move down on her own and died as Sherpa guides brought her down. Watch: Three Indian climbers died due to traffic jam on Mt. Everest ×

Everest 'traffic jam' survivor calls for tougher rules

An Indian mountaineer who was forced to turn back before summiting Mount Everest said on Monday (May 27) that the lack of trained guides and delays on the crowded route up the 8,850-metre (29,035 feet) summit were key factors in the spate of deaths on the mountain.

Mount Everest climb became a 'death race' says Indian mountaineer

After scaling Mount Kilimanjaro, a 20-year-old man from Ibrahimpatnam village in Telangana's Ranga Reddy district has now reached the peak of Mount Everest.

While his financial condition was not good, Amogh Tukaram was interested in climbing mountains since he was 17 years old and hence took financial assistance from few Telangana officials and went ahead to climb Mount Everest.

He reached the peak of Mount Everest on May 22 at 9.15 am.

Speaking to ANI over the phone, Tukaram said, "My aim is to climb seven highest peaks in seven continents and as part of this, I have already climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and now on May 22 I reached the peak of Mount Everest. I just want to make my nation proud. My financial condition was not good, so I have taken financial assistance from few officials like Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat, Telangana Tourism Commissioner Sunita Bhagwat IFS, Ramchandru Tejavat Advisor to Telangana government and others and I have finally made it."

He added, "I started my journey on April 6 and two of my team members died in front of me due to bad weather, but it didn`t stop me from climbing Mount Everest. I am very happy that I have reached the peak safely and made my nation proud."

Mahesh Bhagwat, Rachakonda Police Commissioner congratulated Tukaram for his achievement and said, "I have faith in him and that was the reason we have extended financial assistance to him."

After scaling Mount Kilimanjaro, a 20-year-old man from Ibrahimpatnam village in Telangana's Ranga Reddy district has now reached the peak of Mount Everest. While his financial condition was not good, Amogh Tukaram was interested in climbing mountains since he was 17 years old and hence took financial assistance from few Telangana officials and went ahead to climb Mount Everest.

After scaling Mount Kilimanjaro, a 20-year-old man from Ibrahimpatnam village in Telangana's Ranga Reddy district has now reached the peak of Mount Everest. While his financial condition was not good, Amogh Tukaram was interested in climbing mountains since he was 17 years old and hence took financial assistance from few Telangana officials and went ahead to climb Mount Everest. He reached the peak of Mount Everest on May 22 at 9.15 am. Speaking to ANI over the phone, Tukaram said, "My aim is to climb seven highest peaks in seven continents and as part of this, I have already climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and now on May 22 I reached the peak of Mount Everest. I just want to make my nation proud. My financial condition was not good, so I have taken financial assistance from few officials like Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat, Telangana Tourism Commissioner Sunita Bhagwat IFS, Ramchandru Tejavat Advisor to Telangana government and others and I have finally made it." He added, "I started my journey on April 6 and two of my team members died in front of me due to bad weather, but it didn`t stop me from climbing Mount Everest. I am very happy that I have reached the peak safely and made my nation proud." Mahesh Bhagwat, Rachakonda Police Commissioner congratulated Tukaram for his achievement and said, "I have faith in him and that was the reason we have extended financial assistance to him."

20-year-old Telangana man scales Mount Everest

The deaths of an Irish and a British climber on Mount Everest took the toll from a deadly week on the world's highest peak to 10, expedition organisers said Saturday.

British climber Robin Fisher, 44, reached the summit Saturday morning but collapsed when he had got just 150 metres back down the slope.&nbsp;

"Our guides tried to help but he died soon after," Murari Sharma of Everest Parivar Expedition told AFP.&nbsp;

On the northern Tibet side of the mountain, a 56-year-old Irish man died Friday morning, his expedition organisers confirmed in a statement on their Facebook page.

The man decided to return without reaching the summit but died in his tent at the North Col pass at 7,000 metres (22,965 feet).&nbsp;

Four climbers from India and one each from the United States, Austria and Nepal have already died on Everest in the past week. Another Irish mountaineer is missing presumed dead after he slipped and fell close to the summit.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/traffic-jam-on-everest-as-two-more-climbers-die-reaching-summit-221113">A traffic jam of climbers in the Everest</a> "death zone" has been blamed for at least four of the deaths, heightening concerns that the drive for profits is trumping safety.&nbsp;

Nepal issued a record 381 permits for mainly foreign climbers, costing $11,000 each, for the spring climbing season.

Each climber with a permit is assisted by at least one Sherpa, adding to the summit logjam.

With the short window of suitable weather due to close soon, bottlenecks of scores of climbers wanting to achieve the ultimate mountaineering accolade have built up each day.

An estimated 600 people had reached the summit via the Nepal side by Friday, a government official said, based on information from expedition organisers.&nbsp;

At least 140 others have been granted permits to scale Everest from the northern flank in Tibet, according to operators. This could take the total past last year's record of 807 people reaching the summit.

Many Himalayan mountains -- including Everest -- are at peak climbing season, with the good weather between late April and the end of May.&nbsp;

Eight other climbers have died on other 8,000-metre-plus Himalayan peaks this season, while two are missing.&nbsp;

The deaths of an Irish and a British climber on Mount Everest took the toll from a deadly week on the world's highest peak to 10, expedition organisers said Saturday.

The deaths of an Irish and a British climber on Mount Everest took the toll from a deadly week on the world's highest peak to 10, expedition organisers said Saturday. British climber Robin Fisher, 44, reached the summit Saturday morning but collapsed when he had got just 150 metres back down the slope. "Our guides tried to help but he died soon after," Murari Sharma of Everest Parivar Expedition told AFP. On the northern Tibet side of the mountain, a 56-year-old Irish man died Friday morning, his expedition organisers confirmed in a statement on their Facebook page. The man decided to return without reaching the summit but died in his tent at the North Col pass at 7,000 metres (22,965 feet). Four climbers from India and one each from the United States, Austria and Nepal have already died on Everest in the past week. Another Irish mountaineer is missing presumed dead after he slipped and fell close to the summit. A traffic jam of climbers in the Everest "death zone" has been blamed for at least four of the deaths, heightening concerns that the drive for profits is trumping safety. Nepal issued a record 381 permits for mainly foreign climbers, costing $11,000 each, for the spring climbing season. Each climber with a permit is assisted by at least one Sherpa, adding to the summit logjam. With the short window of suitable weather due to close soon, bottlenecks of scores of climbers wanting to achieve the ultimate mountaineering accolade have built up each day. An estimated 600 people had reached the summit via the Nepal side by Friday, a government official said, based on information from expedition organisers. At least 140 others have been granted permits to scale Everest from the northern flank in Tibet, according to operators. This could take the total past last year's record of 807 people reaching the summit. Many Himalayan mountains -- including Everest -- are at peak climbing season, with the good weather between late April and the end of May. Eight other climbers have died on other 8,000-metre-plus Himalayan peaks this season, while two are missing.

Deaths of British, Irish climbers add to Everest toll

Three Indians died on Mount Everest due to hours-long "traffic jam", just days after expedition leaders and the Nepal government claimed overcrowding on the world's tallest mountain was not a worry.

Three Indian climbers died due to traffic jam on Mt. Everest

A huge queue of climbers has formed near the summit of Mount Everest as expedition organisers Thursday reported two more deaths on the world's highest mountain.

More than 200 climbers were taking advantage of clear weather on Wednesday to attempt to summit from both Nepal and China, but teams had to line up for hours to reach the top -- risking frostbite and altitude sickness.

An American and Indian climber are the latest fatalities, their expedition organisers said, on one of the busiest-ever days on the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) peak.

Donald Lynn Cash, 55, collapsed at the summit on Wednesday as he was taking photographs, while Anjali Kulkarni, also 55, died while descending after reaching the top.

Kulkarni's expedition organiser, Arun Treks, said heavy traffic at the summit had delayed her descent and caused her death.&nbsp;

"She had to wait for a long time to reach the summit and descend," said Thupden Sherpa. "She couldn't move down on her own and died as Sherpa guides brought her down."

Pasang Tenje Sherpa, of Pioneer Adventure, told AFP that Cash collapsed on the summit and died close to Hillary Step as guides were bringing him back.&nbsp;

The deaths take the toll on Everest to four this season, after an Indian climber died last week and an Irish mountaineer is presumed dead after he slipped and fell close to the summit.

Mountaineering in Nepal has become a lucrative business since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made the first ascent of Everest in 1953.&nbsp;

The Himalayan nation has issued a record 381 permits costing $11,000 each for this year's spring climbing season, sparking fears of bottlenecks en route to the summit if poor weather cuts down the number of climbing days.

Most Everest hopefuls are escorted by a Nepali guide, meaning more than 750 climbers will tread the same path to the top in the coming weeks.

At least 140 others have been granted permits to scale Everest from the northern flank in Tibet, according to expedition operators. This could take the total past last year's record of 807 people reaching the summit.

Many Himalayan mountains -- including Everest -- are at peak climbing season, with the window of good weather between late April and the end of May.

At least six other foreign climbers have died on other 8,000-metre Himalayan peaks this season, while two are missing.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

A huge queue of climbers has formed near the summit of Mount Everest as expedition organisers Thursday reported two more deaths on the world's highest mountain. More than 200 climbers were taking advantage of clear weather on Wednesday to attempt to summit from both Nepal and China, but teams had to line up for hours to reach the top -- risking frostbite and altitude sickness.

A huge queue of climbers has formed near the summit of Mount Everest as expedition organisers Thursday reported two more deaths on the world's highest mountain. More than 200 climbers were taking advantage of clear weather on Wednesday to attempt to summit from both Nepal and China, but teams had to line up for hours to reach the top -- risking frostbite and altitude sickness. An American and Indian climber are the latest fatalities, their expedition organisers said, on one of the busiest-ever days on the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) peak. Donald Lynn Cash, 55, collapsed at the summit on Wednesday as he was taking photographs, while Anjali Kulkarni, also 55, died while descending after reaching the top. Kulkarni's expedition organiser, Arun Treks, said heavy traffic at the summit had delayed her descent and caused her death. "She had to wait for a long time to reach the summit and descend," said Thupden Sherpa. "She couldn't move down on her own and died as Sherpa guides brought her down." Pasang Tenje Sherpa, of Pioneer Adventure, told AFP that Cash collapsed on the summit and died close to Hillary Step as guides were bringing him back. The deaths take the toll on Everest to four this season, after an Indian climber died last week and an Irish mountaineer is presumed dead after he slipped and fell close to the summit. Mountaineering in Nepal has become a lucrative business since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made the first ascent of Everest in 1953. The Himalayan nation has issued a record 381 permits costing $11,000 each for this year's spring climbing season, sparking fears of bottlenecks en route to the summit if poor weather cuts down the number of climbing days. Most Everest hopefuls are escorted by a Nepali guide, meaning more than 750 climbers will tread the same path to the top in the coming weeks. At least 140 others have been granted permits to scale Everest from the northern flank in Tibet, according to expedition operators. This could take the total past last year's record of 807 people reaching the summit. Many Himalayan mountains -- including Everest -- are at peak climbing season, with the window of good weather between late April and the end of May. At least six other foreign climbers have died on other 8,000-metre Himalayan peaks this season, while two are missing.

'Traffic jam' on Everest as two more climbers die reaching summit

Only last week Nepali mountain guide Kami Rita Sherpa set a new record by climbing Everest a 24th time. On Tuesday for good measure he did it again, expedition organisers said.

"This is historic. He made his record climb this morning, guiding a team of Indian police," Mingma Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks told AFP.

A guide for more than two decades, Sherpa first summited the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) peak, the world's highest, in 1994 while working for a commercial expedition.

In the 25 years since, the 49-year-old has made 35 summits on five 8,000-metre peaks, including the world's second-highest mountain, K2 in Pakistan.

Last year he ascended Everest for the 22nd time, breaking the previous record of 21 summits he shared with two other Sherpa climbers, both of whom have retired.&nbsp;

Returning last week to a colourful welcome at base camp after his 23rd climb, Sherpa had already said that he wanted to go up for a second time this season.

"I am very happy and proud, I think I might go up the mountain again this season," he had said over a crackly phone line after his descent.&nbsp;

The accomplished climber has often said he did not intend to make records, but accumulated his summits in course of his work as a guide.

"I did not climb for world records, I was just working. I did not even know you could set records earlier," he said last month before setting off for Everest base camp.

With their unique ability to work in a low-oxygen, high-altitude atmosphere, ethnic Sherpa guides are the backbone of Nepal's climbing industry, helping clients and hauling equipment up Himalayan peaks.

Mountaineering has become a lucrative business since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made the first ascent of Everest in 1953.&nbsp;

Nepal has issued a record 381 permits costing $11,000 each for this year's spring climbing season, sparking fears of bottlenecks en route to the summit if poor weather cuts down the number of climbing days.&nbsp;

Most Everest hopefuls are escorted by a Nepali guide, meaning over 750 climbers will tread the same path to the top in the coming weeks.&nbsp;

And at least 140 others are preparing to scale Everest from the northern flank in Tibet, according to expedition operators. This could take the total past last year's record of 807 people reaching the summit.&nbsp;

Many Himalayan mountains -- including Everest -- are at peak climbing season, with the window of good weather between late April and the end of May.

The death toll is already mounting, however.

An Indian climber died on Everest last week while a search continues for an Irish mountaineer who slipped and fell close to the summit.&nbsp;

Six other foreign climbers have died on other 8,000-metre Himalayan peaks while two are missing.&nbsp;

Only last week Nepali mountain guide Kami Rita Sherpa set a new record by climbing Everest a 24th time. On Tuesday for good measure he did it again, expedition organisers said.

Only last week Nepali mountain guide Kami Rita Sherpa set a new record by climbing Everest a 24th time. On Tuesday for good measure he did it again, expedition organisers said. "This is historic. He made his record climb this morning, guiding a team of Indian police," Mingma Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks told AFP. A guide for more than two decades, Sherpa first summited the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) peak, the world's highest, in 1994 while working for a commercial expedition. In the 25 years since, the 49-year-old has made 35 summits on five 8,000-metre peaks, including the world's second-highest mountain, K2 in Pakistan. Last year he ascended Everest for the 22nd time, breaking the previous record of 21 summits he shared with two other Sherpa climbers, both of whom have retired. Returning last week to a colourful welcome at base camp after his 23rd climb, Sherpa had already said that he wanted to go up for a second time this season. "I am very happy and proud, I think I might go up the mountain again this season," he had said over a crackly phone line after his descent. The accomplished climber has often said he did not intend to make records, but accumulated his summits in course of his work as a guide. "I did not climb for world records, I was just working. I did not even know you could set records earlier," he said last month before setting off for Everest base camp. With their unique ability to work in a low-oxygen, high-altitude atmosphere, ethnic Sherpa guides are the backbone of Nepal's climbing industry, helping clients and hauling equipment up Himalayan peaks. Mountaineering has become a lucrative business since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made the first ascent of Everest in 1953. Nepal has issued a record 381 permits costing $11,000 each for this year's spring climbing season, sparking fears of bottlenecks en route to the summit if poor weather cuts down the number of climbing days. Most Everest hopefuls are escorted by a Nepali guide, meaning over 750 climbers will tread the same path to the top in the coming weeks. And at least 140 others are preparing to scale Everest from the northern flank in Tibet, according to expedition operators. This could take the total past last year's record of 807 people reaching the summit. Many Himalayan mountains -- including Everest -- are at peak climbing season, with the window of good weather between late April and the end of May. The death toll is already mounting, however. An Indian climber died on Everest last week while a search continues for an Irish mountaineer who slipped and fell close to the summit. Six other foreign climbers have died on other 8,000-metre Himalayan peaks while two are missing.

Nepal's Kami Rita Sherpa climbs Mount Everest for 24th time, creates record

An Indian mountaineer was among 14 climbers who successfully scaled the world's highest peak <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/two-more-indian-mountaineers-die-another-missing-in-nepal-219404">Mount Everest</a> on Monday, officials said.&nbsp;

Seven foreign mountaineers from China, Greece and India, and seven Nepalese Sherpas reached atop the 8848-metre peak on Monday morning, according to the Mountain Division of Ministry of Tourism.

Nepal opened the climbing route to the world's highest peak on May 14, when a team of eight Sherpas successfully scaled the Mount Everest, becoming the first team to reach the summit.

Among the seven climbers who scaled the summit, four are from China, two from Greece and one from India.

The Indian mountaineer was identified as Pranay Bandbuch by the ministry.&nbsp;

Around 378 climbers, part of 41 different teams, have obtained climbing permits for Mount Everest from the department of tourism this spring season.

More than 200 climbers have already headed to the high camps to make their final summit pushes starting Tuesday.&nbsp;

"The summit window may last for the next four days," said Gyanendra Shrestha, a liaison officer from Ministry of Tourism.&nbsp;

Last week, two Indian mountaineers, including an Indian Army soldier, died while another went missing after one of them successfully scaled the world's highest peak.

An Indian mountaineer was among 14 climbers who successfully scaled the world's highest peak Mount Everest on Monday, officials said. Seven foreign mountaineers from China, Greece and India, and seven Nepalese Sherpas reached atop the 8848-metre peak on Monday morning, according to the Mountain Division of Ministry of Tourism.

An Indian mountaineer was among 14 climbers who successfully scaled the world's highest peak Mount Everest on Monday, officials said. Seven foreign mountaineers from China, Greece and India, and seven Nepalese Sherpas reached atop the 8848-metre peak on Monday morning, according to the Mountain Division of Ministry of Tourism. Nepal opened the climbing route to the world's highest peak on May 14, when a team of eight Sherpas successfully scaled the Mount Everest, becoming the first team to reach the summit. Among the seven climbers who scaled the summit, four are from China, two from Greece and one from India. The Indian mountaineer was identified as Pranay Bandbuch by the ministry. Around 378 climbers, part of 41 different teams, have obtained climbing permits for Mount Everest from the department of tourism this spring season. More than 200 climbers have already headed to the high camps to make their final summit pushes starting Tuesday. "The summit window may last for the next four days," said Gyanendra Shrestha, a liaison officer from Ministry of Tourism. Last week, two Indian mountaineers, including an Indian Army soldier, died while another went missing after one of them successfully scaled the world's highest peak.

Indian climber Pranay Bandbuch among 14 who scaled Mount Everest

Two Indian climbers, including an Indian Army soldier, have died and another has gone missing in Nepal after one of them successfully scaled the world's highest peak, Mount Everest, the expedition organiser said Friday, days after two mountaineers from the country perished in the Himalayan nation.

Army soldier Ravi Thakar, 28, was found dead inside his tent at Camp IV on Mount Everest early Friday while Narayan Singh died at Camp IV on Thursday night when he was climbing down from the 8,485-meter Mount Makalu summit, world's fifth highest mountain.

Dipankar Ghos, 52, from Kolkata went missing from above Camp IV while returning from the Mount Makalu summit, said Mingma Sherpa, Chairman at Seven Summit Treks. 
A search team, which reached the area from where the climber is suspected to have gone missing, however, failed to trace him, Sherpa said.

Ghos climbed Mount Everest in 2011 and has also scaled Mount Kanchenjunga, Mount Lhotse, Mount Manaslu and Mount Dhaulagiri among other peaks. 
Thakar died after he suffered from high altitude sickness.

"Fellow climbers found him dead inside the tent," Sherpa was quoted as saying by a Nepalese newspaper.

Ravi was part of an eight-member expedition led by renowned Irish climber Noel Richard Hanna.

He along with other members made it to the summit of Mount Everest on Thursday morning.

Another member of the same expedition, Seamus Sean Lawless from Ireland, slipped from the balcony area while descending from the summit point.

"Fate of the missing Irish climber is still unknown," Sherpa said.

"Indian climber Narayan Singh died in Mt Makalu. He died at camp 4 while descending the summit," Nepal Tourism Ministry official Mira Acharya told PTI.

Two Indian climbers from West Bengal - Biplab Baidya (48) and Kuntal Karar (46) - died in Nepal on Wednesday due to high altitude sickness near the summit of Mount Kanchenjunga, the world's third tallest peak.

Another climber from Chile is missing from above Camp IV of Mount Kanchenjunga since Wednesday evening.

Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world. It is located in the Mahalangur Himalayas 19-kilometer southeast of the 8,848-meter Mount Everest, on the border between Nepal and Tibet Autonomous Region, China.

Hundreds of climbers flock each year to Nepal - home to several of the world's highest mountains, to scale Himalayan peaks during the spring season that begins around March and ends in June.&nbsp;

Two Indian climbers, including an Indian Army soldier, have died and another has gone missing in Nepal after one of them successfully scaled the world's highest peak, Mount Everest, the expedition organiser said Friday, days after two mountaineers from the country perished in the Himalayan nation.

Two Indian climbers, including an Indian Army soldier, have died and another has gone missing in Nepal after one of them successfully scaled the world's highest peak, Mount Everest, the expedition organiser said Friday, days after two mountaineers from the country perished in the Himalayan nation. Army soldier Ravi Thakar, 28, was found dead inside his tent at Camp IV on Mount Everest early Friday while Narayan Singh died at Camp IV on Thursday night when he was climbing down from the 8,485-meter Mount Makalu summit, world's fifth highest mountain. Dipankar Ghos, 52, from Kolkata went missing from above Camp IV while returning from the Mount Makalu summit, said Mingma Sherpa, Chairman at Seven Summit Treks. A search team, which reached the area from where the climber is suspected to have gone missing, however, failed to trace him, Sherpa said. Ghos climbed Mount Everest in 2011 and has also scaled Mount Kanchenjunga, Mount Lhotse, Mount Manaslu and Mount Dhaulagiri among other peaks. Thakar died after he suffered from high altitude sickness. "Fellow climbers found him dead inside the tent," Sherpa was quoted as saying by a Nepalese newspaper. Ravi was part of an eight-member expedition led by renowned Irish climber Noel Richard Hanna. He along with other members made it to the summit of Mount Everest on Thursday morning. Another member of the same expedition, Seamus Sean Lawless from Ireland, slipped from the balcony area while descending from the summit point. "Fate of the missing Irish climber is still unknown," Sherpa said. "Indian climber Narayan Singh died in Mt Makalu. He died at camp 4 while descending the summit," Nepal Tourism Ministry official Mira Acharya told PTI. Two Indian climbers from West Bengal - Biplab Baidya (48) and Kuntal Karar (46) - died in Nepal on Wednesday due to high altitude sickness near the summit of Mount Kanchenjunga, the world's third tallest peak. Another climber from Chile is missing from above Camp IV of Mount Kanchenjunga since Wednesday evening. Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world. It is located in the Mahalangur Himalayas 19-kilometer southeast of the 8,848-meter Mount Everest, on the border between Nepal and Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Hundreds of climbers flock each year to Nepal - home to several of the world's highest mountains, to scale Himalayan peaks during the spring season that begins around March and ends in June.

Two more Indian mountaineers die, another missing in Nepal

Commandos of India's premier <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nsg-commandos-to-undertake-regular-yoga-psychological-tests-31359">counter-terror force NSG</a> on Thursday created history as they scaled the Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, in their maiden attempt, a senior official said.&nbsp;

A seven-member team of the National Security Guard (NSG), led by Lt Col J P Kumar, successfully unfurled the Indian flag at the 8,848-metre tall peak at about 7am on Thursday, the official said.

"The team adopted the south eastern approach via Solukhumbhu region of Nepal," the force said in a statement.

NSG Director General Sudeep Lakhtakia congratulated the team, saying "Everest demands doggedness, tenacity, perseverance, courage and multiple skills to survive in toughest conditions. The NSG commandos have all these qualities".

The 12-member team was flagged off by Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba on March 29. Five other members of the team are likely to summit the peak on May 22 as per schedule, according to the statement.

This is the first expedition of the NSG to the Mount Everest and the force has been preparing for it since 2017, the official said.

The NSG, called as the 'black cats', was raised in 1984 as a counter-terror and counter-hijack contingency force. It has five hubs in the country to undertake these operations.

Commandos of India's premier counter-terror force NSG on Thursday created history as they scaled the Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, in their maiden attempt, a senior official said.

Commandos of India's premier counter-terror force NSG on Thursday created history as they scaled the Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, in their maiden attempt, a senior official said. A seven-member team of the National Security Guard (NSG), led by Lt Col J P Kumar, successfully unfurled the Indian flag at the 8,848-metre tall peak at about 7am on Thursday, the official said. "The team adopted the south eastern approach via Solukhumbhu region of Nepal," the force said in a statement. NSG Director General Sudeep Lakhtakia congratulated the team, saying "Everest demands doggedness, tenacity, perseverance, courage and multiple skills to survive in toughest conditions. The NSG commandos have all these qualities". The 12-member team was flagged off by Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba on March 29. Five other members of the team are likely to summit the peak on May 22 as per schedule, according to the statement. This is the first expedition of the NSG to the Mount Everest and the force has been preparing for it since 2017, the official said. The NSG, called as the 'black cats', was raised in 1984 as a counter-terror and counter-hijack contingency force. It has five hubs in the country to undertake these operations.

India's counter-terror NSG commandos scale Mount Everest

An eight-member team of Nepali mountain guides on Tuesday successfully scaled the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/five-tons-of-garbage-collected-from-mount-everest-217208">Mount Everest</a>, becoming the season's first team to open the climbing route to the world's highest peak.

The climbers successfully fixed the climbing ropes from the South Col to the summit point and scaled the 8,848-metre peak on Tuesday for the other climbers to follow, according to Ummid Bhandari, manager at Himalayan Guides Nepal, that organised the expedition.

The expedition was led by Siddhi Bahadur Tamang.&nbsp;

The Expedition Operators Association of Nepal has assigned Himalayan Guides to fix the route above Camp II this season, while a team of icefall doctors assigned by the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee opened the climbing route from the base camp to Camp II.

Around 378 climbers, part of 41 different teams, have obtained climbing permits for Mount Everest from the department of tourism this spring season, officials said.

An eight-member team of Nepali mountain guides on Tuesday successfully scaled the Mount Everest, becoming the season's first team to open the climbing route to the world's highest peak.

An eight-member team of Nepali mountain guides on Tuesday successfully scaled the Mount Everest, becoming the season's first team to open the climbing route to the world's highest peak. The climbers successfully fixed the climbing ropes from the South Col to the summit point and scaled the 8,848-metre peak on Tuesday for the other climbers to follow, according to Ummid Bhandari, manager at Himalayan Guides Nepal, that organised the expedition. The expedition was led by Siddhi Bahadur Tamang. The Expedition Operators Association of Nepal has assigned Himalayan Guides to fix the route above Camp II this season, while a team of icefall doctors assigned by the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee opened the climbing route from the base camp to Camp II. Around 378 climbers, part of 41 different teams, have obtained climbing permits for Mount Everest from the department of tourism this spring season, officials said.

Eight climbing guides reach Everest top, open climbing route for this season

The tented city at the foot of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/five-tons-of-garbage-collected-from-mount-everest-217208"> Mount Everest</a> is bustling as mountaineers brace for potentially the busiest year yet on the world's highest peak, prompting concerns about overcrowding and safety.

Since<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sagarmatha-campaign-3000-kg-garbage-collected-from-mount-everest-in-15-days-214407"> Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay </a>made the first ascent in 1953 more than 4,000 climbers have reached the top of Everest, according to the authoritative Himalayan Database.

Recent years have seen especially rapid growth, with the mountain opening up to more people as competition between expedition organisers has caused costs to plummet.

But rising numbers mean greater risk -- a higher chance of bottlenecks as larger teams lumber their way to the summit, potential shortages of oxygen tanks, and increased risk of frostbite and even death.

A photo of a huge traffic jam below the summit in 2012 prompted calls for better crowd management and even a cap on the number of permits issued annually.&nbsp;

Nepal currently grants permits to all who apply and are willing to pay $11,000 to scale the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) peak. This year the government has handed out 378 climbing permits according to the tourism department.

That tops the previous record of 373 in 2017.

Most Everest aspirants will need the help of Nepali guides to reach the summit, meaning about 750 climbers will tread the same path to the top in the coming weeks when the weather is expected to be most favourable.

And at least 140 others are preparing to scale Everest using the northern route from Tibet, according to expedition operators, taking the potential total past the 2018 record of 807 when five people died.

'Put a limit'&nbsp;

Spring is the busiest time of year on the mountain as the icy winds and bone-chilling temperatures are more forgiving than at other times.

Even so, the climbing season is short, with ascents expected to begin in the coming days and usually wrap up by the end of May or the first week of June.

Ice doctors, the elite Sherpa mountaineers who set the ropes to the summit for hundreds of paying clients to climb, are currently waiting for a favourable weather window to begin their ascent.

But powerful jet streams raging around the top of Everest have expedition operators worried about the number of summit days, raising the likelihood of many climbers going up at the same time.

Mountaineering blogger Alan Arnette said that problems could arise at the end of the season due to overcrowding when desperate climbers push onward to the summit despite a narrowing weather window.&nbsp;

"Perhaps Nepal should put a limit as China has done or the US Park Service for Denali," Arnette said.

"But I doubt Nepal ever will do this because there is too much money at stake and they seem unable to refuse business, regardless of the risks," he said.

Nepal has raked in over $4 million in Everest permit fees alone in 2019, a much-needed source of revenue for the cash-strapped country.

Expedition operator Dawa Steven Sherpa of Asian Trekking conceded that while "there are some concerns about overcrowding", mountaineering companies have become better at crowd management and are working together to schedule their teams.

"It is also a little too early to talk about (whether) the weather will impact the summit days," he said.

&nbsp;'Adventure of our lives'&nbsp;

Many of the climbers are now completing their acclimatisation ascents.

Among them is accomplished mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa, 49, who is planning his 23rd ascent of the peak, breaking his own record for the most summits of Everest.

This season, the Nepal route will also see more women than ever before, with 76 female climbers attempting the feat.

"This is not easy to break in a male-dominated industry, but we are here to climb and prove that we can do it," Nima Doma Sherpa told AFP last month before leaving for base camp.

American climber Cory Richards and Ecuadorian Esteban Topo Mena are attempting to establish a new route on Everest, a decade after a South Korean team successfully ascended the mountain after carving a new path along its southwest face.

"Our bodies and minds feel strong and we are getting our spirits ready for the adventure of our lives," Mena said in an Instagram post on Tuesday. The duo will climb "alpine style" -- without supplemental oxygen.

The tented city at the foot of Mount Everest is bustling as mountaineers brace for potentially the busiest year yet on the world's highest peak, prompting concerns about overcrowding and safety.

The tented city at the foot of Mount Everest is bustling as mountaineers brace for potentially the busiest year yet on the world's highest peak, prompting concerns about overcrowding and safety. Since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made the first ascent in 1953 more than 4,000 climbers have reached the top of Everest, according to the authoritative Himalayan Database. Recent years have seen especially rapid growth, with the mountain opening up to more people as competition between expedition organisers has caused costs to plummet. But rising numbers mean greater risk -- a higher chance of bottlenecks as larger teams lumber their way to the summit, potential shortages of oxygen tanks, and increased risk of frostbite and even death. A photo of a huge traffic jam below the summit in 2012 prompted calls for better crowd management and even a cap on the number of permits issued annually. Nepal currently grants permits to all who apply and are willing to pay $11,000 to scale the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) peak. This year the government has handed out 378 climbing permits according to the tourism department. That tops the previous record of 373 in 2017. Most Everest aspirants will need the help of Nepali guides to reach the summit, meaning about 750 climbers will tread the same path to the top in the coming weeks when the weather is expected to be most favourable. And at least 140 others are preparing to scale Everest using the northern route from Tibet, according to expedition operators, taking the potential total past the 2018 record of 807 when five people died. 'Put a limit' Spring is the busiest time of year on the mountain as the icy winds and bone-chilling temperatures are more forgiving than at other times. Even so, the climbing season is short, with ascents expected to begin in the coming days and usually wrap up by the end of May or the first week of June. Ice doctors, the elite Sherpa mountaineers who set the ropes to the summit for hundreds of paying clients to climb, are currently waiting for a favourable weather window to begin their ascent. But powerful jet streams raging around the top of Everest have expedition operators worried about the number of summit days, raising the likelihood of many climbers going up at the same time. Mountaineering blogger Alan Arnette said that problems could arise at the end of the season due to overcrowding when desperate climbers push onward to the summit despite a narrowing weather window. "Perhaps Nepal should put a limit as China has done or the US Park Service for Denali," Arnette said. "But I doubt Nepal ever will do this because there is too much money at stake and they seem unable to refuse business, regardless of the risks," he said. Nepal has raked in over $4 million in Everest permit fees alone in 2019, a much-needed source of revenue for the cash-strapped country. Expedition operator Dawa Steven Sherpa of Asian Trekking conceded that while "there are some concerns about overcrowding", mountaineering companies have become better at crowd management and are working together to schedule their teams. "It is also a little too early to talk about (whether) the weather will impact the summit days," he said. 'Adventure of our lives' Many of the climbers are now completing their acclimatisation ascents. Among them is accomplished mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa, 49, who is planning his 23rd ascent of the peak, breaking his own record for the most summits of Everest. This season, the Nepal route will also see more women than ever before, with 76 female climbers attempting the feat. "This is not easy to break in a male-dominated industry, but we are here to climb and prove that we can do it," Nima Doma Sherpa told AFP last month before leaving for base camp. American climber Cory Richards and Ecuadorian Esteban Topo Mena are attempting to establish a new route on Everest, a decade after a South Korean team successfully ascended the mountain after carving a new path along its southwest face. "Our bodies and minds feel strong and we are getting our spirits ready for the adventure of our lives," Mena said in an Instagram post on Tuesday. The duo will climb "alpine style" -- without supplemental oxygen.

Everest braces for record year amid overcrowding fears

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