Strong gale has blown away 40 tents in Camp I and Camp II of Mount Everest this morning, said officials at the base camp.
“The high wind started blowing early in the morning, which has not subsided till now,” said the official. The wind is expected to subside from Friday.
IMFGA guide Abiral Rai, who is resting after first round of rotation at the base camp, said that his colleagues have not been able to set up tents at Camp II. “The wind speed was recorded at 65 kilometer per hour in the morning,” he told Everest Chronicle.
He said the wind wrecked the storage tent in the morning. “No one is hurt so far,” he said.
High altitude workers at the base camp said that tents from Seven Summit Treks, Himalayan Glaciers and few others tents are also damaged by the wind.
Expedition companies are setting up tents at higher camps, where they store logistical materials for the expedition. As the route opening through the Khumbu Icefall was delayed, the expedition companies are working at war footing level to make the expedition happen.
The rope fixing team above Camp II established the route up to Camp IV only on April 28. The team is taking a rest at base camp waiting for a good weather window to lay the ropes above Camp IV.
Due to the delay in opening the route through Khumbu icefall, expedition companies are set to ferry their logistical supplies to Camp II to expedite the expedition.
The two weeks window in May, usually from mid-May, is considered the best climbing time on Everest. However, the summit attempt lasts till first week of June.
