KATHMANDU: Deaths take the toll on different mountains to 18 this season after two more climbers died on Mt Everest and Mt Makalu on Friday, according to the expedition officials.

A renowned national mountain guide Dhruba Bista breathed his last at the base camp of Mt Everest this afternoon after he was evacuated from Camp III in the world’s highest peak, officials at the Everest base camp said.

Bista was part of an expedition run by Himalayan Ski Treks. “Bista, who fell ill at Camp III, breathed his last after he was heli-rescued to the base camp a few minutes ago.”

Mingma Sherpa, Chairman at Seven Summit Treks, said that Nima Tenji Sherpa from Sankhuwasabha died above Camp II on Mt Makalu this afternoon when he was returning from the summit point.

With the two latest fatalities, the death toll on diffferent mountains above 8,000 m has reached 18 in the spring season, officials have confirmed. “The season witnessed eight deaths on Mt Everest, four on Mt Makalu, three deaths on Mt Kanchenjunga, and one each on Mt Lhotse, Mt Annapurna and Mt Cho Oyu till date.”

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