May 19, 2011

Civil servants of Nepal on Wednesday (May 18) set a new record in the history of mountaineering by climbing Mount Everest. Nine civil servants, accompanied by 15 Sherpa guides, reached the 8,848-metre mountain. According to the Tourism Industry Division under the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, the successful climbers included Gyanendra Kumar Shrestha, Sant Kumar Maharjan, Hari Prasad Guragain, Subir Shrestha, Tulsi Ram Bhandari, Surath Pokhrel, Padam Bhandari and Khimlal Gautam. The leader of the expedition, Lilamani Poudel, was recalled this week after he was transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs as the Secretary from the Office of the Prime Minister. Poudel said civil servants took the initiative to help the government's campaign this year to attract one million tourists from across the world. It would also help acquire first-hand information about the effects of global warming on mountain tourism, emphasise the campaign to keep the mountain garbage-free and inspire all government staff, he said. The government had allocated Rs. 30 million for the expedition and waived the fee for the climbing permit. This is the first time an expedition comprising civil servants has reached the peak of any major mountain. Nepal is celebrating the Nepal Tourism Year 2011 with the aim of attracting one million international tourists. "The expedition was divided into two teams and they reached the peak safely between 6 and 7 a.m. on Wednesday," said tourism ministry spokesperson Laxman Bhattarai from the Everest Base Camp.ver The first team had five civil servants and five climbing guides and the second team comprised four team members and 10 Sherpas. "As far as we know this is the first instance of an all civil servant team reaching top of Everest. Once back in Kathmandu, we will verify it and apply for the record," he said. Bhattarai, a member of the 15-member expedition, was also supposed to attempt the feat. But he returned to the base camp due to health reasons. Four other members also abandoned their bids due illness. Until May 18, a total of 135 climbers have reached the top of Everest this season. Three climbers including former Nepal minister Shailendra Kumar Upadhayay (82) have lost their lives while attempting to achieve the feat.