Five Russian climbers, identified as Alexander Dusheyko, Oleg Kruglov, Vladimir Chistikov, Mikhail Nosenko, and Dmitrii Shpilevoi, tragically lost their lives after falling from Mount Dhaulagiri, the seventh-highest peak in the world, during Nepal’s autumn climbing season, expedition organizers confirmed on Tuesday.
The climbers were attempting to summit the 8,167-meter (26,788-foot) high Mount Dhaulagiri, known for its challenging terrain. The group had been missing since Sunday, and on Tuesday, a rescue helicopter located their bodies at an altitude of 7,100 meters, according to Pemba Jangbu Sherpa of I AM Trekking and Expeditions, a Kathmandu-based trekking company.
The logistics of retrieving the bodies from such a high altitude remain uncertain, as it will require significant planning, equipment, and manpower to safely bring them down from the mountain.
Among the group, two climbers had successfully reached the summit, while the others turned back before reaching the top. The climbers lost radio contact with their base camp team shortly after their descent.
Nepal’s autumn climbing season, which started last month, is less crowded than the more popular spring season. It offers climbers lower permit fees but comes with challenging weather conditions and reduced visibility. Details about the cause of the accident remain scarce.
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