On 23 May, an image taken by the climber Nirmal Pujra went viral. It showed a long queue of climbers waiting to reach the summit of Everest. Elia Saikaly, a film-maker, was on that climb. He describes the ascent, while the Guardian’s Michael Safi discusses why the number of people seeking to scale Everest has exploded. Plus: Helsinki’s radical solution to homelessness
May and June are the only months where weather conditions make it possible for climbers to reach the summit of Everest. This year, a record number of permits were issued by the Nepalese government, which, along with a rule that every climber has to be accompanied by a sherpa, led to there being more than 820 people trying to reach the summit. Eleven people died on the mountain, leading to questions about whether better regulation is needed.
The film-maker Elia Saikaly tells India Rakusen about his ascent on 23 May, a climb he has described as “Death. Carnage. Chaos. Lineups. Dead bodies on the route and in tents at Camp 4. People who I tried to turn back who ended up dying. People being dragged down. Walking over bodies. Everything you read in the sensational headlines all played out on our summit night.” The Guardian’s South Asia correspondent, Michael Safi, looks at the history of climbing Everest and whether this year’s events might prompt better regulation.
Written by Presented by India Rakusen with Elia Saikaly, Michael Safi and Jon Henley, produced by Gary Marshall, Mythili Rao and Axel Kacoutié; executive producers Nicole Jackson and Phil Maynard
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/world/audio/2019/jun/04/death-carnage-chaos-a-climber-on-his-recent-ascent-up-everest under the title “Death, carnage and chaos: a climber on his recent ascent of Everest – podcast”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
