KATHMANDU : Three mountaineers are suspected dead after they were buried due to massive ice mass movement in Khumbu Icefall of Mount Everest on Wednesday.

Da Tsheri Sherpa (45), Lakpa Rita Sherpa (22) and Temba Tenzi Sherpa (32) are among those who were the victims of the mishap. The permanent residents of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality-5, these climbers have been working as mountaineering guides for Imagine Trek Pvt Ltd.

Lamakaji Sherpa, chairperson of Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, said these climbers have been buried under the ice mass. The climbers faced the incident after they fell with the movement of ice masses in Khumbu Icefall of Camp-1 area, which is located at altitude of 5,700 meter from sea-level. According to him, the possibility of finding the missing climbers alive is very slim.

According to the Department of Tourism, they have been reported missing between the base camp and Camp One since 9:30 Wednesday morning. Following the incident, the department mobilized a rescue team in a chopper of Simrik Air to search for the missing climbers.

According to the District Police Office, Solukhumbu, a helicopter is being sent to recover the dead bodies of the mountaineers. However, the rescue team is having difficulties due to the narrow rift in the site where these ill-fated climbers have been trapped.

These employees of Imagine Trek were given the task of route-fixing and to manage necessary logistics up to Camp-2 for the mountaineers who have been permitted to summit Mount Everest this spring season. It is the first mountaineering accident of this season.

The government has issued permits to over 240 mountaineers to climb Mount Everest during the spring season this year. These mountaineers have received permits to climb the world’s highest peak representing 24 mountaineering expedition teams. These teams include 41 women.