Bangladeshi climber Mohammed Khaled Hossain died in the small hours of Tuesday while descending from Mount Everest after successfully climbing the summit. A South Korean climber Sung Ho-Seo, 34, died wile do attempting the climb without supplementary oxygen, Gyanendra Shrestha, an official of the Tourism ministry of Nepal told Nepalese media.“The exact cause of their death is unknown, but altitude played a part,” he said
He added the bodies would not be recovered until after the summit season ended so as not to interrupt other climbers.
Both men perished in the “death zone” — above 8,000 meters, notorious for its difficult terrain and thin air. Hundreds flock to the highest peak during good weather.
When contacted, M Shameem Ahsan, DG (EP) Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Khaled’s death.
“We are trying know the details of the incident and how he died,” he told The Independent.
Khil Lal Gautam, an official at tourism ministry, told The Nepal Post that Khaled Hussain lost his life at 8,600 metres.
Ho-Seo, who had climbed the peak without supplement oxygen, refused to put on oxygen mask on returning to tent as suggested by Sherpa guides.
Ho-Seo argued that he would manage without oxygen since he had climbed the Everest without it, he said.
Khaled Hossain was a member of Bangla Mountaineering and Tracking Club (BMTC), and was popularly known as Sajal Khaled.
He hailed from Singpara Hasargao village under Atpara union of Srinagar upazila of Munshiganj district. His father’s name is Abdul Aziz and mother’s name is late Shakhina Begum. Khaled was
youngest of their four children. In profession Khaled was a film director and he directed a film titled “Kajoler Dinrattri”.
Khaled used to live with his wife Shoily at the city’s Khilgaon area. Sushmit, a two and a half year old, is their only son.
Before his expedition Khaled wrote on his Facebook : “Everest is calling. I am joining an Expedition to Mt. Everest this week. This is my second attempt on Everest. I am going with celebrity climber Sudarshan Gautam who doesn’t have two hands. Sudarshan says ‘Disability is not an inability’. Your good wish will inspire me”.
Khaled started for Nepal on Apr 11. Before leaving, he had said that it was his 15th expedition and second attempt to scale the Everest. On the previous occasion, he had managed to reach around 24,000 feet but was forced to descend due to rough weather. Private television channel Desh TV sponsored Khaled’s expedition.
BMTC member Riaz Ahmed said despite repeated attempts they failed to contact Khaled.
It may be mentioned that five other climbers have died on the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) mountain this season.
Early in the season Mingmar Sherpa, 47, a member of an elite team known as the “icefall doctors” who set up climbing routes, plunged to his death.
DaRita Sherpa, 47, died from what is believed to have been cardiac arrest earlier this month. Commercial guide Lobsang Sherpa, 22, also plunged to his death. A 50-year-old Russian climber, Alex Bolotov, was found dead near the famed Khumbu Icefall crevasse on May 15.
Namgyal Sherpa, who had led expeditions to clear garbage and bodies from Everest, died May 16 while descending from his tenth successful summit.
Some 300 people have perished trying to reach the summit during the last six decades. The bodies of some of them remain on the mountain.
May is considered the best time for climbing in the Nepalese Himalayas because of mild weather and some 300 people have reached the top of Everest so far this year.
Before Khaled, five Bangladeshis so far successfully schaled the Everest. Of them Musa Ibrahim scaled the top of the world on May 24, 2010 followed by MA Muhith on May 29, 2011. Nishat Majumder became the first Bangladeshi women to reach the Everest summit on May 19, 2012. MA Muhith accompanied Nishat to the Everest and they scaled the peak for the second time and one week later on May 26 Wasfia Najreen scaled the Mount Everest.
In his instant reaction Musa Ibrahim expre ssed his deep shock over the death of Khaled.
“This part of the mountain is very dangerous and it is one of the most difficult part for climbing,” he told the media.
Different quarters including foreign minister Dipu Moni, and first Everest conqueror of Bangladesh Musa Ibrahim expressed their deep shock at the demise of the Sajal Khaled.
“It’s a sad incident news in the field of adventurer in Bangladesh. The death of Sajal is irreparable,” Musa said.
Sajal Khaled conquered Mount Everest through the South face of Nepal at about 10 am on May 10.
The whole team descended but Khaled became weak physically after reaching the South summit (about 28,750 feet). Such physical weakness made him unable to move and he died at one point.
Iswari Powdel, chief of Himalayan Guides Pvt Ltd said, “Kapur Shresta, representative of the base camp confirmed the matter at 5:45pm on May 20.”
Khaled received the permission from the Seven Summit Treks (Pvt) Ltd and Speed Everest Sherpa. Pemba Darji arranged all matters in his Everest expedition.
Earlier, Khaled went on Everest expedition through North face of Tibet on April-May in 2011. But he could only succeed to completed the camp one (about 23,000 feet). He returned as he fell sick for pneumonia.
He conquered mountain fray, mountain Singu Chuli in Nepal and mountain Mera in Nepal with Musa Ibrahim in 2006.
-With The Independent input
