Bodies of Russian climbers not yet recovered

By Thakur Prasad Acharya,Beni, Oct. 16: The bodies of five Russian mountaineers who died last Tuesday while climbing the 8,167-metre high Dhaulagiri mountain peak located in Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-4, Mudi of Myagdi district, have not yet been recovered. 

Due to geographical difficulties and adverse weather conditions, the dead bodies of the climbers are stuck in the mountains.

It is reported that there was a problem in recovering and bringing dead bodies due to adverse weather conditions. The bodies of the climbers have been stuck at a height of about 7,100 metres for a week.

According to the police, the climbers died after falling from a height of about 7,700 meters while climbing Dhaulagiri-I mountain on October 6. Alexander Dusheyko, Oleg Kruglov, Vladimir Chistikov, Mikhail Nosenko, and Dmitrii Shpilevoi were found dead last Tuesday at an altitude of 7,100 metres. The sixth team member, Valeri Shamalo, was evacuated safely before the incident as he fell ill. 

Bharat Shrestha, Deputy Superintendent of Police of the District Police Office in Myagdi, said that there was a problem in bringing the dead bodies of five mountaineers who were found dead due to adverse weather and difficult terrain. He said that it was not possible to collect the bodies even though the concerned trekking company took the initiative.

He said, "On Wednesday, a team including Sherpas went in a helicopter to inspect the incident site and tried to pick up the dead bodies, but due to adverse weather, there was a problem in landing the helicopter." 

According to DSP Shrestha, they were staying at the 'high camp' of the base camp, and were out of contact since 11 o'clock in the afternoon last Sunday from a height of 7,700 metres.

Fourteen male mountaineers from Russia had gone to climb the Dhaulagiri mountain through IAM Trekking and Expedition. Nine climbers had canceled the ascent in the middle and returned.