The five dead are two Nepalis and three foreigners—two Hungarians and a South Korean national, Minga Sherpa, the proprietor of Seven Summit Trekking Agency, which had arranged the expedition, confirmed on Thursday. [break]
“Due to inclement weather, we are unable to bring the dead bodies,” Sherpa said. He added they have so far been unable to send helicopter or local Sherpas to bring those bodies from the incident site. According to him, the incident occurred while they were returning to the camp No 4 after scaling the 8,586 meter-peak on May 20. They had left from Kathmadu on April 2.
Of the dead, only the identities of the Nepalis have been established. They are Diwas Gurung and Phudorjee Sherpa of Sankhuwasabha. The trekking agency said they were trying to ascertain the identities of all other three foreigners.
The Kanchanjunga Conservation Area Management Council (KCAMC) said it has received the information about the incident but added that the information is yet to be independently verified. KCMC Chairman Khagendra Phombo Limbu said they have been trying to contact their agency but cold, adverse weather is hampering their effort.
DSP Govinda Prasad Acharya of the district police office, Taplejung, said though the police heard about the incident informally, they have not received any formal report. He said there is a temporary police post at the Yamphudin area, but they are so far unable to have any telephone contact with it due to adverse weather.
(Updated with corrections)
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