Kathmandu, 25 October (H.S.):

The bodies of two Japanese mountaineers who went missing while climbing Gangapurna Himal in Nepal’s Manang district were recovered on Sunday. Arrangements are being made to transport the bodies to Kathmandu, following which they will be handed over to their families after the necessary formalities, in coordination with the Japanese Embassy in Nepal.

According to Mukti Prasad Khanal, Chief District Officer of Manang, Japanese nationals Hidesuke Taneishi and Tetsu Hashimoto went missing while attempting to climb the 7,455-metre-high Gangapurna Himal in Nisyang Rural Municipality. The two climbers had embarked on the expedition with a Nepali guide through Kathmandu-based Cosmo Adventure Company.

The mountaineers had been out of contact since October 15, with communication reportedly lost at an altitude of approximately 7,050 metres. Following their disappearance, helicopters and rescue teams were deployed to locate them.

During the search operation, rescuers also discovered the climbers’ bags and mountaineering equipment. After an extensive search, their bodies were found on Sunday morning on the southern side of Gangapurna Himal, at an altitude of around 6,300 metres, Khanal said.

The bodies are expected to be brought to Kathmandu for the required procedures before being handed over to the families in coordination with the Japanese diplomatic mission in Nepal.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar