Beijing, October 6. More than 200 climbers have been stranded on the Tibetan slopes of Mount Everest following a severe snowstorm, while another 350 have been rescued and moved to safety by villagers and rescue teams. The situation worsened on Sunday as heavy snowfall continued to affect the camps, making conditions more challenging for those still trapped.

As per agency report, hundreds of local villagers and rescue workers carrying essential supplies reached the affected areas, where snowfall has been ongoing since Friday. According to China’s state broadcaster CCTV, cited by the BBC on Monday, over 200 climbers remain stranded in the snowstorm, while around 350 have been successfully evacuated to safer locations. Earlier reports had indicated that more than 1,000 tourist climbers were trapped on the slopes of Mount Everest in the Karma Valley on the Chinese side.

Videos shared on social media and eyewitness accounts from stranded climbers revealed that on Sunday, amid thunderclouds, strong winds, and continuous snowfall, paths in the remote area were completely buried under snow, making movement nearly impossible. In China, Mount Everest is known as Mount Qomolangma and stands at an elevation of more than 8,849 meters, making it the highest mountain in the world.

Meanwhile, Typhoon Matmo made landfall on Sunday along the eastern coast of Xuwen County in Zhanjiang city, located in China’s southern Guangdong province. Local authorities evacuated approximately 347,000 people from the southern provinces of Guangdong and Hainan as a precautionary measure.

Shimla, May 23: In a remarkable feat of perseverance and courage, Chonjin Angmo, a visually impaired tribal woman from the remote Chango village in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district, has become the first blind Indian woman to conquer Mount Everest. As per agency report, she scaled the world’s highest peak on Monday, becoming the fifth visually impaired person globally to achieve this milestone.

Angmo, who lost her sight at the age of eight, never allowed her disability to obstruct her dreams. Inspired by Helen Keller and her famous quote that having sight but no vision is worse than blindness, Angmo pursued her goals with unyielding determination. She earned both her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from Miranda House at Delhi University and currently works as a customer service associate at Union Bank of India in Delhi.

Her father, Amar Chand, expressed immense pride in her accomplishment, stating that the family is awaiting her return to celebrate her achievement fully. The news of her ascent has sent waves of joy through her native village, with relatives and villagers praising her fearless spirit and determination.

Angmo’s journey to the summit has not been without hurdles. From financial constraints to the physical demands of mountaineering, her path was lined with challenges. However, she turned each obstacle into an opportunity, reiterating in an earlier interview that her visual impairment is not a weakness but a strength. She declared her intent to climb all the peaks she once only dreamed of.

In October 2024, Angmo became the first blind Indian woman to complete the trek to the Everest Base Camp, located at an altitude of 5,364 meters. She has also scaled Mount Kang Yatse II in Ladakh, standing 6,250 meters high, and was part of a special expedition team that summited an unnamed peak of approximately 6,000 meters in the region.

Her achievements were recognized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who mentioned her in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio program, praising her spirit and accomplishments.

Angmo’s passion for sports is equally inspiring. She has won a gold medal in swimming at the state level, participated in national-level judo championships, and secured two bronze medals in national marathon events. She has also completed the Delhi Marathon three times, along with the Pink Marathon and the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, and has represented at both regional and national levels in football.

Chonjin Angmo’s story stands as a beacon of inspiration, proving that vision and determination are more powerful than physical limitations.

Kathmandu, May 14 (IANS) Nepali Sherpa Pasang Dawa on Sunday became the world's second person to scale Mount Everest 26 times, local media reported.

"Born in Pangboche, Dawa grew up seeing Everest everyday. He has made it to the summit of Mt Everest for 26 times at 0906 a.m. today," The Himalyan Times quoted Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, Managing Director of expedition organiser Imagine Nepal Treks, as saying.

"His Everest Summits are in 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, twice in 2006, twice in 2007, 2008, 2009, twice in 2010, 2011, 2012, twice in 2013, 2016,2017, twice in 2018 and twice in 2019 and twice in 2022," Gyalje said.

Dawa shares the record number of summits with Kami Rita Sherpa.

Kathmandu, April 12 (IANS) Three Sherpa climbers have gone missing in a crevasse on Mount Everest on Wednesday, according to Nepal's Tourism Department.

The three identified as Chiri Sherpa, Lakpa Tendi Sherpa and Lakpa Rita Sherpa, were heading to Camp II from Camp I carrying rope-fixing equipment, the Department's Director Yubraj Khatiwada.

Search and rescue efforts are underway.

As the new expedition season is coming closer, it is expected that around 500 climbers will make an attempt to climb the world's tallest mountain this year.

In 2021, the Department had issued a record 409 Everest permits.

The number dropped to 325 in 2022 as the Russia-Ukraine war prevented potential climbers from the two warring nations, Poland and some other European countries from coming to Nepal.

Hordes of adventurers are again plodding to the Khumbu region with fresh hopes, dreams and enthusiasm.

An Everest climbing permit costs $11,000 for foreigners and 75,000 NPR for Nepalis.

An experienced climbing guide makes as much as $12,000 during the 45-day season, where the good weather window is normally available for two weeks in a year.

A normal or beginner guide earns $7,000 per season, while high-altitude porters earn up to $4,000 per season.

Even the income of a porter is five times greater than the average income of Nepalis.

The climbing time from the Everest Base Camp (altitude 5,364 metres) to Camp 1 (5,943 metres) is six hours.

The Khumbu Icefall, the most treacherous part of the route, lies between these two camps. Most climbers try to cross the Khumbu Icefall before sunrise when it is less susceptible to movement.

As sunlight warms up the ice, the chances of crevasses opening up or blocks falling become much greater.

It takes four hours to reach Camp 2 (6,400 metres) from Camp 1, the most exciting and easiest part of the route.

From Camp 2 to Camp 3 (7,162 metres), the average walking time is seven hours, while from Camp 3 to 4 (8,000 metres) or South Col, the average walking time is seven hours.

At Camp 4, the ultimate thrill begins as it is the last point from where the Everest push-starts.

It takes 10 hours to reach the summit (8,848 metres) from Camp 4.

Normally, the summit push begins at 11 p.m. or midnight so that climbers can reach the summit and begin their descent during the day.