SOLUKHUMBU, Oct 30: Mandeep Gurung, 34, an international mountain guide, who was on a search mission for Chheten Sherpa, was airlifted to Lukla for treatment. Sherpa, an expedition member from the victory team, has gone missing in the region since October 19.
In his attempt to search for Sherpa, Gurung fell ill at Mera peak after which his health condition got worse. He was airlifted to Lukla in a helicopter earlier today and was treated at Pasang Lhamu Nicole Niqille Hospital, according to Laxman Misan Karki, operator of Adventure Victory.
Stranded climbers, guide rescued from Mera peak
Gurung was further airlifted by another helicopter to HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu after his health condition got worse. He is currently being kept on a ventilator, Karki said. The team of international mountain guides reached Mera peak on Oct 26 with modern equipment to search for the missing 29-year-old Chheten Sherpa, a resident of Solu Dudhkunda Municipality-3.
Although the rescue mission will continue, the state of Chheten Sherpa is still unknown. According to the company, the search team will look for Sherpa one last time on Sunday. The expedition team had made it to the summit of Mera peak to promote tourism.
Sherpa along with two foreigners and 10 other tourists were trapped in the snow during their descent from the peak on October 19. The foreigners and tourists were rescued by a team of sherpas, two days later and were airlifted to Lukla. However, Chheten Sherpa has not been found, despite efforts from the search team.
(With inputs from RSS)
