Wind, snow hamper searching, retrieval of bodies on Everest

KATHMANDU: Bad weather on Mount Everest on Wednesday prevented retrieval of two bodies of climbers who died on mountain and the search for two who disappeared near the summit, expedition organisers said.

Most climbers have finished their attempts to reach the summit, but those still trying were having problems with the low visibility, wind and snow.

Pemba Sherpa of the Seven Summit Treks agency in Kathmandu said a helicopter waited all day at base camp for weather to clear so it could fly to a higher camp.

A Dutch climber's body was brought to Camp 2 at 6,400 metres (21,000 feet), while an Australian climber's body is at Camp 3 located at 7,200 metres (23,620 feet).

The Sherpas who are attempting to carry the bodies were struggling because of the weather condition on the slopes of Everest.

Wangchu Sherpa of the Trekking Camp Nepal agency in Kathmandu said his team was searching for two Indian climbers missing near the summit since the weekend and rescuers were also attempting to reach the body of a third Indian died to bring it back to lower camp.

Nearly 400 climbers have scaled the 8,850-metre (29,035-foot) peak since May 11. However, three climbers have died and two are missing on the unpredictable slopes of the world's highest mountain.

The spring climbing season generally ends in May after which the monsoon season brings bad weather that makes climbing the mountain impossible.