President Bhandari honours mountaineers

Kathmandu, April 30

President Bidya Devi Bhandari today honoured several mountaineers amid a programme held to mark 60-years of ascent of Mount Manaslu and Mount Lhotse.

President Bhandari feted Pasang Lamu Sherpa, the first Nepali female mountaineer to summit Mount K2; Minoru Higeta, the first mountaineer to summit Mount Manaslu; and Junko Tabei, the first female mountaineer to summit Mount Everest.

At the Diamond Jubilee Celebration jointly organised by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Nepal Mountaineering Association, President Bhandari expressed confidence that the recommendations to be furnished by experts during the conference will be important in mitigating the impacts of climate change.

On the occasion, the president paid tributes to national and international mountaineers, researchers and guides, who lost their lives during mountaineering expeditions. She also extended condolences to their bereaved families.

Also speaking at the event, Minister for Information and Communications Sherdhan Rai reaffirmed that the government had accorded high importance to the development and promotion of tourism.

Similarly, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Kumar Rai expressed his belief that the conclusion of the conference would be helpful in tackling the effects of climate change.

Likewise, Member-Secretary of NMA Ang Tshering Sherpa said the diamond jubilee celebrations would help reinvigorate the tourism sector by disseminating a positive message that Nepal is a safe destination.

Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Masashi Ogawa said the celebration would be fruitful in further strengthening the ties between Nepal and Japan.

Japanese mountaineer Higeta who scaled Mount Manaslu said his fascination for Nepal was growing since his first successful ascent of Mount Manalsu 60 year ago. The event saw participation of several national and international mountaineers as well as the high-ranking officials of the Government of Nepal.

Mount Manaslu, the eighth highest peak in the world, was first scaled in May 9, 1956 whereas Mount Lhotse, the fourth highest, was scaled in May 18 the same year.