21-5-2023 (SINGAPORE) A Singaporean climber has been reported missing after successfully reaching the summit of Mount Everest on Friday morning (May 19), prompting his family to urgently seek attention for his situation. Mr. Shrinivas Sainis Dattatraya embarked on his journey from Singapore to Nepal last month with the goal of conquering the world’s highest peak.
A petition on the change.org website, authored by his cousin Divya Bharath, sheds light on the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. According to the petition, Mr. Shrinivas showed signs of frostbite and altitude sickness while descending from the summit. This led him to separate from the rest of his group and is believed to have fallen around the 8,000-meter mark, possibly on the Tibetan side of the mountain.
A team of sherpas initiated search operations on Saturday morning in an effort to locate the missing climber. Reports from news website BNN reveal that Mr. Shrinivas was part of an expedition organized by Seven Summit Treks, a Nepalese company specializing in guided climbs on Mount Everest and other peaks. The last known contact with base camp officials occurred at approximately 8,500 meters.
According to Ms. Bharath’s petition, the family has reached out to relevant governments, emphasizing the need for immediate attention. Urging the deployment of a specially trained rescue team capable of operating in treacherous terrain, she stressed the importance of expediting the rescue operation without being hindered by bureaucratic processes.
The devastated family of Mr. Shrinivas remains hopeful amidst the challenging circumstances. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to inquiries from CNA, stated that the Singapore High Commission in New Delhi has been in close communication with the climber’s family, local authorities in Nepal, and emergency medical services since Friday evening. Ongoing search and rescue efforts are being carried out, with the Ministry pledging to monitor developments and provide necessary consular support during this difficult time.
In an unfortunate turn of events, two more climbers lost their lives on Mount Everest, bringing the total number of fatalities this climbing season to nine, as reported . The latest victims were a Malaysian and a Chinese climber. The death toll this season has surpassed the average of five climbers per spring, highlighting the perilous conditions faced in the “death zone” above 8,000 meters, characterized by thin air, low oxygen levels, and treacherous terrain.
Nepal has issued 478 permits to foreign climbers for Mount Everest this season, which extends until early June. With the majority of climbers requiring guides, the total number attempting to summit exceeds 900.
