Headlines
Indians safely brought down to Everest Base Camp
New Delhi, April 28
All Indian mountaineers,
who were trapped at Everest Camp I and II following avalanches triggered
by the massive Nepal earthquake last week-end, have been safely brought
down to the Base Camp, according to an official.
"Mountaineers,
Indians and some foreigners, have been safely brought down to Base Camp
from Camp I and II with the help of helicopters. I know two of their
names -- Ratnesh, who is a civilian, and C.M. Praveen, who is from
Karnataka," Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) secretary Wing
Commander H.K. Kutty (Retd) told IANS on Tuesday.
Between 30 to
40 Indians were trapped on Saturday at Camp I (19,500 ft) and II (21,000
ft) and were cut-off from the Base Camp (17,500 ft) following the
avalanches. To add to their problems, plans of air rescue operations
took a hit due to inclement weather and high altitudes.
Three
teams from India, accredited to the IMF and attempting to climb the
world's highest peak, were trapped on the Everest slopes following the
avalanches. Several other teams, which were making their respective
attempts in individual capacity, were also affected.
Among the
three known teams, one represents the Indian Army while the other two
are from the IMF and the Guwahati-based Assam Mountaineering Association
(AMA). The five-member IMF team has safely reached Kathmandu and will
remain there till a decision on the expedition is taken by the
government of Nepal.
"The IMF team which comprises of All India
Services officers has safely reached Kathmandu. I do not have much
information about the other teams. I cannot tell you more as the
information we are receiving is patchy," Kutty added.
Meanwhile, no time frame has been fixed for their return home.
"The
army and the AMA teams have also been safely evacuated and brought down
and they are either at Base Camp or at Gorakshep (16,942 ft)," IMF
president Col. H.S. Chauhan (Retd) told IANS.
Gorakshep, roughly
90-minute trek from the Base Camp (17,500 ft) is the final
acclimatisation halt on most common treks to the Everest Base Camp and
is used for pitching tents.