KATHMANDU, May 24: Thirteen climbers have died or are presumed dead while climbing various mountains in Nepal after this year's spring window opened, according to the details provided by expedition agencies and government's mountaineering agency.
Some of the mountaineers died while descending to lower camps whereas others died in the course of ascent. Some climbers, however, were found dead while resting at the higher camps.
Expedition companies have blamed acute mountain sickness, hypoxia and weaknesses for the deaths.
Five climbers die, three missing on Everest this season
Of the total deceased or missing cases, five involve Everest. According to Mira Acharya, the director of the Department of Tourism, American climber Donald Lynn Cash from USA died at Balcony of Everest on Wednesday while descending from the summit. Another Indian climber Anjali Sharad Kulkarni and Kalpana Das died on Thursday.
Another Indian climber Ravi Thakur was found dead on Everest on last Friday. An Irish climber Samus Sean Lawless has been missing on Everest since last Thursday while descending to lower camps from Balcony.
Last Thursday, two Indian climbers--Biplab Baidya and Kuntal Karna had died on Mount Kanchanjengha summit, according to Peak Promotion, the expedition company. Likewise, Chilean climber Rotriego Vivanco has been missing on Mt Kanchanjengha since last Thursday.
More climbers died on Mt Makalu. Dipankar Ghosh remains missing on Mt Makalu since last Friday. Likewise, Narayan Sigh was found dead at camp IV while descending from Makalu summit.
Peruvian mountaineer Richard Hidalgo had died on his camp set up at height of 6,500 meters. Nepali Sherpa climber Phujung Bhote Sherpa had died on April 30 while fixing rope on Mt Cho Oyu.
A Bulgarian climber, Iran Yuriv Tomor, died at the last camp of Mt Lhotse while descending to lower camps.
Malaysian climber Wui Kin Chin, who was rescued from Annapurna I, died while receiving treatment in Singapore.
