Kathmandu, April 18 (BNA): A mountain climber from Northern Ireland died while descending from the summit of the tenth highest peak in the world, and an Indian climber was missing on the same mountain.
10-time Everest climber Noel Hanna climbed the 8,091-meter (26,545-foot) summit of Annapurna in western Nepal on Monday and died overnight in Camp IV after descending from the summit.
The circumstances of Hanna’s death are not clear, said Yobraj Khatiwada, an official with the Tourism Ministry.
He said an Indian climber who fell into a crevasse in the lower reaches of the Annapurna has been missing since Monday.
Two other Indian mountaineers, who got caught in bad weather while climbing Annapurna, were rescued by officials of the hiking company.
Annapurna Peak in western Nepal, first climbed by Maurice Herzog of France in the early 1950s, is considered dangerous because of the frequent avalanche hazards.
At least 365 people have climbed Annapurna and more than 72 people have died on the mountain, according to hiking officials.
Last week, three Nepalese Sherpa climbers died after crashing into an ice circus in the lower parts of Mount Everest.
Eight of the 14 highest mountains in the world are found in Nepal. Climbing Himalayan peaks and hiking on pedestrian hills are popular adventure sports as well as a source of employment and income for the country sandwiched between China and India.
M