Two Japanese Mountaineers Found Dead on Mount Gangapurna
The bodies of two Japanese mountaineers who went missing while attempting to climb Mount Gangapurna in Nepal have been recovered, local authorities confirmed on Friday.
Chief District Officer Mukti Prasad Khanal identified the climbers as Hidesuke Taneishi and Tetsu Hashimoto, who had been out of contact since October 15 while attempting to summit the 7,455-metre mountain in Nisyang Rural Municipality-6, Manang district. The climbers were part of an expedition organised through Kathmandu-based Cosmo Adventure Company and were accompanied by a Nepali guide. Contact was lost at an altitude of around 7,050 metres, prompting the deployment of a helicopter and rescue team.
Their bodies were eventually found at approximately 6,300 metres on the mountain’s southern face. Rescuers had earlier discovered their backpacks and climbing equipment during the search. Authorities are preparing to transport the bodies to Kathmandu for post-mortem examinations before handing them over to their families in coordination with the Embassy of Japan in Nepal.
