An injured Indian climber who was rescued from the Annapurna mountain region is brought to a hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 18, 2023. An Irish climber died and an Indian is missing after falling into a crevasse in two separate incidents on Mount Annapurna, the world's 10th highest mountain, an expedition organizer said. (PHOTO / AP)
KATHMANDU – A mountaineer from Northern Ireland died while descending from the summit of the world’s 10th highest peak and an Indian climber is missing on the same mountain, climbing officials said on Tuesday.
Noel Hanna, who had climbed Mount Qomolangma, also known as Mount Everest, 10 times, scaled the 8,091 meters Annapurna peak in west Nepal on Monday and died overnight in Camp IV after descending from the peak.
Yubaraj Khatiwada, an official of the Department of Tourism, said the circumstances of Hanna’s death were unclear.
Annapurna peak in west Nepal, first climbed by Maurice Herzog of France in the early 1950s, is considered dangerous because of the risk of frequent avalanches
He said an Indian climber, who fell into a crevasse on the lower reaches of Annapurna, has been missing since Monday.
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Two other Indian mountaineers, who were caught up in bad weather while climbing Annapurna, were being rescued, hiking company officials said.
Annapurna peak in west Nepal, first climbed by Maurice Herzog of France in the early 1950s, is considered dangerous because of the risk of frequent avalanches.
At least 365 people have climbed Annapurna and more than 72 have died on the mountain, according to hiking officials.
Last week, three Nepali sherpa climbers died after being hit by an ice serac on the lower parts of Mount Qomolangma.
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Nepal has eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains. Climbing Himalayan peaks and hiking on their foot hills are popular adventure sports as well as a source of employment and income for the country which is tucked between China and India.