Everester Anshu back safe and sound
Source: The Sangai Express / Ninglun Hanghal

New Delhi, May 09 2015 : Two time Everester Anshu Jamsenpa returned from her base camp at quake hit Nepal and arrived at New Delhi today.

Speaking to media persons Anshu narrated that on April 25 she along with other members were trekking some 500 mtrs below Everest Base Camp (EBC) when the quake came and triggered a massive avalanche in the Everest region.

Her Everest Base Camp was fully damaged and destroyed with debris strewn all over.

The EBC looked like the Khumbu Icefall and the place above was transformed into a series of death traps that few expert climbers would dare to climb.

To continue with the expedition would have been risky, foolish and even suicidal.

Retreat was the only option.

It maybe mentioned that the tragic incident and subsequent avalanche killed 18 mountaineers and injured hundreds at the EBC.

Emergency teams using helicopters evacuated the seriously injured climbers from the base camp, while others who were trapped higher up the Everest were also rescued later, said Anshu.

On April 30, Tulsi Gautam, Director General of Nepal Tourism advised Anshu and other climbers against abandoning their expeditions, saying repairs were under way and Everest expedition would be allowed to continue.

However on April 3, Ang Dorjee Sherpa, Chairman of Sagarmata Pollution Control Board (SPCC) announced the closure of the treacherous Khumbu route for the season on the advice of icefall experts.

In the present situation, with the SPCC's decision the Everest Expedition has been closed for the second consecutive year.

Last year the expedition was halted due to an avalanche as well.

With the shutting down of Everest for the season, Anshu and all other mountaineers who needed no chopper rescue started descending with whatever was left of the expedition.

It may be recalled that Anshu Jamsenpa's 'Everest Again' expedition was flagged off from Itanagar by Kiren Rijiju, MoS for Home and Ranjit Rae the Ambassador of India to Nepal on April 7.She was attempting to double ascend Mt Everest.

Anshu was the only mountaineer who had been granted dual permit by Nepal Government to enable her double ascend attempt to create a world record for India.

In a statement, Tsering Wange, President of Arunachal Mountaineering & Adventure Sports Association stated that scores of messages from different parts of India and abroad kept pouring in seeking information and updates about Anshu's health and safety.

On behalf of Anshu and the team, he thanked the MoS Home, Raj Bhawan Itanagar, Govt of Arunachal Pradesh, sponsors, well-wishers, friends and relative who kept her spirit high during her trying times.

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