KATHMANDU, Nepal–At a time some mountaineers aspiring to scale the world highest peak are quitting their attempts amidst Friday’s deadliest avalanche, the Tourism Ministry has appealed the high-altitude Sherpa guides and support staff to continue the Everest expedition.
Issuing a press statement on Monday, the ministry said that the government is committed to adopt major reforms in the mountaineering sector by holding discussion with concerned stakeholders.
On Sunday, mountaineering and guide agencies decided to cancel all climbing activities, giving the government a seven-day ultimatum after declaring this year as ‘Black Everest year.’
Stating that many people in the world have unique interest for scaling Everest, the government has also assured that it would give high priority to make Everest safer and reliable in future.
The ministry said that through a ministry-level meeting on May 29, 2013, it revised the insurance amounts of mountain guides, high-altitude workers and porters, liaison officers, search and rescue officials and workers of mountain base camps that came into effect from January 1, 2014.