Namche Bazaar, May 27

A month-long cleaning campaign on the world’s highest mountain has concluded with the collection of over 10,000 kg garbage from the Mt Everest region.

According to Ang Dorje Sherpa, chairman of Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, the mega Everest clean-up drive was carried out in coordination with government and non-governmental agencies for the first time in the history of Everest climbing.

“At least four dead bodies were recovered and rubbish left behind by climbers in the high camps of Mt Everest was collected during the campaign,” Sherpa said.

The joint campaign was run by the Nepali Army, different government ministries, Nepal Mountaineering Association, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality and Sagarmatha Buffer Zone, among others, he added.

According to Sherpa, different teams spent over a month around Everest Base Camp, Camp II and Camp IV areas to collect waste. “More than 6,000 kg waste was collected from the base camp and high camps,” he said, adding the local community groups also joined hands to keep the Khumbu region clean.

Pasang Nuru Sherpa, one of the members of the cleaning team, said it was a tough task as the team struggled hard to collect trash in the high camps.

Nepali Army Major Dipendra Neupane said over Rs 23 million was spent during the campaign, adding, “The campaign would continue in the coming years as well.”

During an inspection session organised at Namche Bazaar, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ishwor Pokharel, Chief of Army Staff Purna Chandra Thapa, Chief Minister of Province 1 Sherdhan Rai and Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohan Krishna Sapkota, among others, vowed to support the campaign in the coming years.