Starting this Spring, Nepal to make carrying electronic chips mandatory for Everest climbers
PTI, Feb 24, 2024, 12:23 PM IST
Nepal will soon be making it mandatory for all climbers headed to Mount Everest to carry an electronic chip that would be helpful in rescue in case of any emergency at the world’s highest peak.
The government will soon be formulating a rule for making such a chip mandatory starting from Spring this year when the climbing season starts for Mt. Everest with the opening of the narrow window available to climb extremely high altitudes.
Thousands of climbers from all over the world, including India and Nepal, are attracted to the 8,849 metres (29,032 feet) high Mt Everest, a.k.a. Sagarmatha in Nepali. While scores of them do reach the summit, some either lose their lives or are seriously injured during the ascent or descent.
Since 1953, 300 persons have lost their lives, according to Nepal government data. In the 2023 Spring season, till May 22, Nepali officials said, as many as 12 climbers, including four Nepalese, one Indian, and one Chinese, died during their respective expeditions to Mt Everest.
The Everest base camp is situated at an altitude of 18,000 feet. Any search and rescue operation from the base camp onwards to the Summit becomes a tedious job because of the snow storms, avalanches, and other extreme weather events.
“All the climbers to Everest would be provided the electronic chip by the government after paying a certain amount. It will be fitted in the climber’s jacket,” Rakesh Gurung, Director at the Department of Tourism told PTI.
The chips would cost around USD 10 to USD 15, he said.
According to Gurung, the chip will help make the expeditions safe and facilitate emergency rescue operations.
Some reputed climbing agencies have already provided the electronic chips to their climbers, Gurung said.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Two persons injured in fight between Maldivians and Indians in the Maldives
International students in Canada will be allowed to work only 24 hours a week from September
RAW official was involved in assassination plot of Sikh separatist leader Pannun: Report
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar appointed as deputy prime minister
Elon Musk in Beijing amid efforts to promote Tesla’s autonomous driving tech
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
‘Shehzada’ dig: 3 generations of Nehru-Gandhi family sacrificed themselves for country, says Sharad Pawar
Rinku Singh a casualty of IPL’s ‘Impact Player’ rule: Report quotes BCCI source on T20 World Cup
Delhi cops question Youth Cong leader in MP’s Chhatarpur over fake video of Shah
Kumaraswamy and Shivakumar spar over sex scandal involving Hassan MP
Poor people have more children, why only Muslims are being targeted: Kharge asks PM