KATHMANDU, Nepal-A veteran Russian mountaineer died while climbing the Everest, Wednesday morning. The legendary Alexey Bolotov who was in his Everest attempt from Cho-Oyu Trekking as a member of International South West Everest Expedition Team died after skidding of the Base Camp while taking Photos, according to managing director of Chou-Oyu Trekking Company Nima Norbu Sherpa. There were four members at the team.
‘Alexey Bolotov died at the periphery of Base Camp after a short slip while snapping the shot’, Sherpa told to Nepal Mountain Focus quoting the statement of Khim Lal Gautam in Lobuche. According to the director Sherpa, discussions to bring back the body of Bolotov to Kathmandu are undergoing soon after the expedition team leader received the body.
Sherpa has already informed about the death of Boltov to Russian Embassy in Kathmandu adding the attempts are being initiated to inform Boltov’s family about the tragedy through the quarter he lived in Kathmandu. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has also verified Bolotov’s death.
Member of Mountaineering journalist Association Madu Jung Pandey said Bolotov died at Base Camp II while taking snap, quoting the statement of the spokesperson of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohan Krishna Sapkota. Meanwhile, the Ministry has also expressed its deep sorry over the demise of the climber.
There are contradictions about the cause of his death. Earlier, a report from Solukhumbu said Bolotov died while carving a new route on the south-western side of the Mount Everest. The report said Bolotov fell off to death while another climber Denis Urubko sustained injury when their safety rope broke at an altitude of 5,600 meters. Urbko was not the member of Bolotov’s team.
However, director Sherpa said he has not obtained any information about Denis climber.
According to the Ministry, all together five climbers and their guide including foreigner have been died in the Everest till Wednesday, this season. Earlier mountaineer’s guide from Seven Expedition Summit Team Lopsang died while descending Everest at Camp III.
Alexey Bolotov, 50, was the Fyodor Konyukhov of the altitudes. He conquered 11 out of 14 8000-meter peaks, honored with many Russian and international awards.