Kathmandu, April 25

At least two climbing Sherpas were injured when the icefall section of Mt Everest witnessed an ice collapse early this morning, according to expedition officials.

The incident occurred at around 4:00am when a group of climbing Sherpas headed for Camp I from the base camp for acclimatisation, Rishi Bhandari, Managing Director at Satori Adventures Pvt Ltd said. Ngima Sherpa who suffered severe back injury has been airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment while Dendi Sherpa is undergoing treatment at the base camp clinic set up by Himalayan Rescue Association, he said. “Sherpa is undergoing treatment at Norvic International Hospital in Kathmandu,” he said, adding that his condition was out of danger.

According to Ang Dorjee Sherpa, chairman of Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, icefall doctors took nearly two hours to reopen the route. “Now, the icefall route is open as incidents like an ice collapse or small avalanches are normal on the mountains,” Sherpa told THT from Namche Bazar.

Tilak Ram Pandey, an official at the DoT said at least 347 members of 38 teams, including 20 Nepali female climbers, have obtained climbing permits to attempt to climb Mt Everest till date.