An Indian and a Romanian have died on Nepal's Lhotse, the world's fourth-highest eight-thousander. This brings the number of deaths since the start of the season on eight-thousanders to at least eight, local authorities said, as quoted by Reuters, BTA reports.
Rakesh Kumar, 39, from India, died yesterday while descending the 8,516-meter peak. According to Mohan Lamsal of the Nepalese agency that organized the "Makalu Adventure" expedition, Kumar collapsed suddenly at an altitude of about 8,000 meters, near Camp Four. Attempts by Sherpa guides to provide assistance and bring him back to life were unsuccessful.
On the same day, 48-year-old Romanian Barna Zsolt Vago, who had also climbed Lhotse, also died. There is currently no information on the cause of his death, according to Rajan Bhattarai of the Himalayan Guides company.
Since the start of the 8,000-meter climbing season in the Himalayas, which began in late March, at least eight people have died, two of whom on Mount Everest, the agency recalls.
Meanwhile, Briton Kenton Kuhl climbed the highest peak on the planet for the 19th time yesterday, improving his own record for the most climbs by a foreigner. Kuhl, 51, made his first ascent of Everest in 2004. and since then he has returned to the summit almost every year.
The record holder for the number of ascents remains Sherpa guide Kami Rita Sherpa, who climbed Everest for the 30th time last year and is currently preparing for his 31st ascent.