KATHMANDU, Nov 4: Two Italian climbers, who had gone missing while attempting to scale Panbari Peak in Chumanubri Rural Municipality-1, Pangboche, have been found dead.
The deceased have been identified as Stefano Farronato, 51, and Alessandro Caputo, 28, both Italian nationals, according to DSP Rajkumar Shrestha of the District Police Office, Gorkha.
The two climbers had reached the 22,595-foot peak on October 1 and went missing on October 13 after being trapped by heavy snowfall while descending.
Two Italian climbers missing on Nepal peak
Local authorities, trekking agencies, security forces and local residents had been conducting search operations since their disappearance. “Despite days of searching, the bodies were found today buried in snow and have been brought to the helipad in Samagaun,” DSP Shrestha told Republica.
A total of six climbers including three Italian nationals had set out to climb Panbari Peak, which lies along the route to the Tajung Bhanjyang checkpoint in Chumanubri-1, Pangboche. Four climbers—including one Italian and three Nepalis—were rescued on Sunday, police said.
Last week, Cyclone Montha triggered heavy rainfall and snowfall across Nepal, leaving trekkers and tourists stranded on several popular Himalayan routes. Sagar Pandey, president of the Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN), earlier said more than a thousand trekkers and tourists had to be rescued following the heavy snowfall that began on October 28.
Home to eight of the world’s 10 highest peaks including Mount Everest, Nepal welcomes hundreds of climbers and trekkers every year. Autumn expeditions in the Himalayas are generally less popular due to colder temperatures, snowy terrain, and a shorter summit window compared to the busier spring season.
Just a day earlier, seven climbers—including five foreigners—were killed in an avalanche in the Yalung Ri area near Na village in Dolakha district.
