Kangchenjunga: Remains of Kuntal and Biplab recovered by the Sherpa Team

Dream Wanderlust | May 18 , 2019

Remains of Kuntal Karar and Biplab Baidya have been recovered from Kangchenjunga by a team of six highly skillful Sherpa from Peak Promotion Agency. The remains of the deceased climbers are to be brought to Camp-2 soon (may be within 2 hours).
Umesh Zirpe, leader of the Giripremi, who is involved in tracking the rescue operation has informed us a few minutes back from the Base Camp of Kangchenjunga. Sherpa Team is led by Dawa Ongchu Sherpa. They conducted the continuous search and recovery operation in the very windy condition in last 20 hours. "We have managed to send six Sherpas for the recovery of the bodies. At present, they were slightly above Camp-3. Within the next 2 hours, their bodies will reach Camp-2 from where they would be heli-transported to Kathmandu," Umesh said.*
*The last update says: "Both bodies are at Camp-2. Since it's too windy at Camp-2, helicopter will bring them tomorrow morning." [message received at 14:28]

Giripremi and Peak Promotion joint rescue (retrieval of remains) operation
Sherpa team:
1. Leader - Dawa Ongchu Sherpa
2. Phurba Sherpa
3. Tensing Sherpa
4. Phu Dorjee Sherpa
5. Ongchu Sherpa
6. Pasang Dawa Sherpa
SAT message we received from the leader is as follows: "The Sherpa team started from Base Camp at 3:30pm yesterday and climbed non-stop to the location where the bodies of Biplab and Kuntal were laid at and reached there at 2:30am. This was all done in heavy windy condition. Then they started the descent with their bodies and are expected to reach Camp-2 in an hour's time. From there onwards, bodies can be lifted by helicopter, most likely, tomorrow, depending on weather conditions."

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However, at Base Camp. there is no other climbers or Sherpas except Umesh Zirpe, Leader of Giripremi's Kangchenjunga expedition and his team member Bhushan Harshe, who along with Peak Promotion staff is coordinating the operation.

Biplab Baidya and Kuntal Karar (L to R)