Russian Climbers Meet Tragic End on Nepal’s Dhaulagiri

Five Russian climbers have lost their lives after going missing during an ascent of Mount Dhaulagiri, the world’s seventh-highest peak located in the central Himalayan region of Nepal. The Russian Embassy in Nepal confirmed the tragic news on Tuesday to CNN.

The embassy stated that the initial investigation suggested the mountaineers died “as a result of falling down a slope.” Efforts are underway to communicate with other expedition members and assess the possibility of retrieving the bodies for identification and repatriation.

Dhaulagiri, known in Sanskrit as “White Mountain,” reaches an altitude of 8,167 meters (26,795 feet) above sea level. The mountain’s challenging conditions, including its steep sides and cold temperatures, make it a difficult climb. It was first conquered in 1960 by a Swiss-Austrian team.

According to the Russian Mountaineering Federation, the climbers were part of a privately organized expedition. The experienced group began their climb in early September, utilizing a traditional “siege” technique, which involves forming smaller groups that take turns advancing and establishing camps throughout the climb.

Contact was lost with the five climbers on October 6, as they embarked on their summit push. A sixth climber had decided not to make the attempt due to health concerns.

The federation expressed condolences to the victims’ families and friends, noting, “The Ambassador of Nepal to Russia also asked to convey his sincere condolences.”

Reports by RIA Novosti, a Russian state news agency, showed images credited to the Leningrad Region Mountaineering Federation. These images, reportedly taken from a helicopter, depicted a backpack and several bodies on a glacier, indicating the climbers were tied with a safety rope when they fell.

According to Nepal tourism official Rakesh Gurung, the climbers were discovered at an elevation of 7,700 meters (25,262 feet) by a rescue helicopter team. The one climber who had withdrawn from the summit attempt was rescued and is now receiving medical treatment in Kathmandu.