KATHMANDU, MAY 22

Two climbers fell down and went missing near Hillary step on Mt Everest since yesterday morning, officials confirmed.

According to a source at the base camp, a climber from UK and a Sherpa climber from Makalu fell down when a section of route in the Hillary step below the summit point collapsed yesterday morning.

The victims have been identified as Daniel Paul Peterson from UK and Pas Tenji Sherpa from Makalu, Sangkhuwasabha. They were part of 8K Expeditions.

The incident occurred when the duo were returning to the lower camps after reaching summit point at around 4:40am on May 21.

According to sources, a team led by Nga Tenji Sherpa and Pasang Sherpa of Summit Force Pvt Ltd carried out rescue and saved other climbers when the route broke at the Hillary section.

'A few climbers were immediately rescued but Peterson and Pas Tenji fell down,' eyewitnesses told the base camp officials.

Earlier, Mongolian climbers - Usukhjargal Tsedendamba and Prevsuren Lkhagvajav - died above 8,500m while descending from the summit point on May 13.