Irish climber dies on Annapurna, while two other climbers being rescued
Indian climber Baljeet Kaur is being rescued from an altitude of 7,363m, while rescuers are trying to locate another Indian climber Arjun Bajpai.
Famed Irish climber Noel Hanna has died at Camp IV on his descent after summiting Annapurpurna, confirmed official at the Department of Tourism.
Ten-time Everest summiteer Noel summited Annapurna without supplemental oxygen. “He has been found dead in his tent Camp IV,” said Yubaraj Khatiwada, Director at the Department of Tourism.
Indian climber Baljeet Kaur has been found at 7,363m of the mountain and being evacuated by long line rescue, Khatiwada said. The 28-year-old climber is the first Indian female climber to scale four eight-thousander in 25 days.
Last year, she successfully summited Everest (May 22), Annapurna (April 28), Kanchenjunga (May 12) and Lhotse (May 23). This was her second summit of Annapurna. She reached the summit Monday without supplemental oxygen.
The search team has not been able to locate the area of missing another Indian climber Arjun Bajpai. Expedition operators have deployed aerial searches of the missing climbers.
On Monday, Indian climber Anurag Maloo fell into a crevasse at an altitude of 6,000 meter. The search team has not been able to locate his body. The 34-year-old climber was on a mission to summit all the 14 peaks above 8,000m and seven summits to create awareness about the UN Sustainable Development Goals
On Tuesday, Pakistani climber Shehroze Kashif scaled the peak becaming the world's youngest mountaineer to summit 11 peaks above 8,000 meters. The 21-year-old made the ascent of the peak early in the morning and descended safely. Similarly, Pakistani climber Naila Kiani, became the first Pakistani woman climber to scale Annapurna. She is also the first Pakistani female climber to scale four peaks above 8,000 meters.
Over 100 climbers have made it to the summit of the world’s 10th highest peak so far. The three incidents took place on their descent.
Summit of Annapurna was delayed by incessant snowfall and avalanches. On April 15, about six dozen climbers reached the summit right after the line was fixed. Climbers took advantage of a short weather window to scale the peak successfully. As weather is unpredictable on the mountains, it has not remained the same after Sunday.
Nepal’s mountains started receiving snowfall only after March. Snow on the mountains is fresh. Expedition experts say the fresh snow makes climbing difficult.
Last week, three Sherpa guides were buried in snow in Khumbu icefall, when a serac collapsed on the route in the treacherous section of the Everest route.
