Kuntal-Biplab's rescue operation failed; Ramesh and Rudra frostbitten

Dream Wanderlust | May 16 , 2019

The Sherpa team, trying to rescue two injured Indian climbers Biplab Baidya and Kuntal Karar, have returned to Camp-4 of Kangchenjunga, as reported from the Base Camp. Even after the herculean rescue operation, performed by Nirmal Purja and his team yesterday, their sincere effort yielded no positive outcome yet. Umesh Zirpe, leader of the expedition team Giripremi from Base Camp says this morning, There is almost no hope that any further rescue is possible to bring Biplab and Kuntal back to Camp-4 at this stage. Similar version was affirmed by the head of the Agency. Both of the sources have confirmed that their is almost no possibility that any further rescue effort can save these two lives.

Ramesh Roy, another climber from the same team, was also rescued by the Sherpas and brought to Camp-4 at around 10pm. His health is also on the verge of critical deterioration, suffering from altitude sickness leading to HAPE (High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema) and snow blindness.

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Climber Rudra Prasad Halder, now staying at Camp-4 is also found to have suffered from frostbite as per the latest information received from Base Camp this morning. Both Ramesh and Rudra would be evacuated by rescue heli from near Camp-3 this morning, as Keshab Prasad Paudyal, head of their handling agency reported this morning.

Biplab Baidya, Kuntal Karar, and Ramesh Roy were part of a five-member team from West Bengal for their Kangchenjunga expedition. Four (Sk Sahabuddin, Rudra Prasad Halder, Ramesh Roy, and Biplab Baidya) amongst them, have reportedly reached the summit point yesterday in the morning. Afterward, Biplab and Kuntal fell sick on their way down and asked for help from an altitude above 8000m. It was believed that Kuntal was suffering from HAPE. One team member (possibly Rudra) sent an SOS to their family at around 3:12pm via GPS device asking for urgent help. Device read an elevation of 8271m.

Nirmal Purja with two other Sherpas Gesman Tamang, and Mingma David Sherpa, are said to have responded promptly to the request for the rescue operation from an altitude of 8200m. They (Purja and his fellow team) were on their way down from the summit of Kangchenjunga. Also, by then, three more Sherpas from Peak Promotion Agency, had left Camp-4 to join the rescue operation, with life support as reported by Giripremi from the Kangchenjunga Base Camp.

Kangchenjunga