Nepal gives green light to climbers

Guwahati: Climbers from the northeast, waiting at the Everest base camps in Nepal, have something to cheer about. The Nepal government has said expeditions to climb the world’s highest peak can go ahead.
Chief of the tourism department of the country, Tulsi Gautam, advised climbers against abandoning their expedition and said repairs are under way.
Thirteen climbers from the region are currently stationed in Nepal.
“The weather is fine now and the Nepal government has given the green signal. All members of the team are extremely hopeful about completing the expedition. We are awaiting route clearance and hope that the sherpas (locals who help the climbers) will agree to continue,” Manash Baruah, leader of an 11-member team from the state, was quoted as saying by the president of Assam Mountaineering Association (AMA), Satyen Sarma, on Saturday.
Sarma said the team from Assam has descended to a place called Lobuche that is below the base camps.
Three-time Everester Anshu Jamsenpa from Arunachal is in a different team comprising climbers from South Africa and Australia. Tsering Wange, Anshu’s husband and president of Arunachal Mountaineering and Adventure Sports Association (AMSA), on Saturday told TOI Anshu has also descended for a medical test.
“She has come down for a routine medical check-up. Otherwise she is doing well. She won’t be able to take a decision on the expedition until the routes are cleared and the sherpas are ready,” Wange said. He said her team mates have already abandoned the climb.