Sherpa safety still lacking
Nepalis look back on deadliest everest disaster a decade later
Kathmandu: Ten years ago, Nepali mountain guide Dawa Tashi Sherpa was fighting for his life after being hit by an avalanche on Everest which was then the deadliest disaster on the world’s highest mountain.
The accident, which killed 16 Nepali guides on April 18, 2014, shined a spotlight on the huge dangers they face to let high-paying foreign clients reach their dreams.
Without their critical work to carve out climbing routes, fix ropes, repair ladders and carry heavy gear up the mountain, few foreign visitors could make it to the daunting peak’s top.
A decade ago, a wall of snow barrelled through the Nepali guides as they heaved heavy kit up the treacherous high-altitude Khumbu icefall in the freezing dark.
The force of the avalanche tossed Dawa Tashi about 10m down, injuring his rib cage, left shoulder blade and nose.
Dawa Tashi, then aged 22, recalled his friends who died.
Three of their bodies were never recovered.
“I was lucky to survive,” he said. “In the hospital, whenever I tried to sleep, they would appear in front of my eyes.”
The disaster led to protests for improved benefits and conditions for the guides, and an unprecedented shutdown on the peak for a season.
The protesters at Everest base camp made several demands.
They included an improvement in insurance payouts and a relief fund from mountain royalties.
“We were advocating for the Nepali climbers, ensuring they can get as much benefit as possible,” said Ang Tshering Sherpa who headed the Nepal Mountaineering Association at the time.
“But not all demands could be met as there were limitations.”
The insurance payout was increased by 50% to 1.5 million Nepali rupees (RM52,987) if someone is killed.
Helicopters are now allowed to fly in supplies to higher camps, decreasing the number of trips Nepalis make across the treacherous Khumbu icefall.
Nepali companies have displaced foreign operators to bring in the majority of climbers, and pay and conditions have improved for guides at larger firms.
But, guide Mingma G Sherpa said, little else has changed.
“They protested, but it was limited to the base camp,” he said. “The main thing is that the government policies are still not good ... we really need to set a standard for climbers to make the mountains safer”.