NEPAL: Nepal's government agrees to meet sherpas' compensation and insurance demands after a deadly avalanche

Record ID: 341569

  • Title: NEPAL: Nepal's government agrees to meet sherpas' compensation and insurance demands after a deadly avalanche
  • Date: 22nd April 2014
  • Summary: KATHMANDU, NEPAL (APRIL 22, 2014) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF TOURISM PROMOTIONAL CENTRE (SOUNDBITE) (NEPALI) TOURISM MINISTRY JOINT SECRETARY, MADHU SUDAN BURLAKOTI, SAYING: "Today, the Nepal Mountaineering Association, the Trekking Agencies Association and others met with me and discussed the report we submitted yesterday (Monday, April 21) to the secretary and the governme
  • Embargoed: 7th May 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nepal
  • Country: Nepal
  • Topics: Accidents,Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVAAQNL9NE8XEUIU35YYF9TUT7R9
  • Story Text: Nepal's government agreed on Tuesday (April 22) to compensation demands for Mount Everest sherpas, after the single deadliest avalanche on the world's highest mountain killed at least 13 guides.
    Expedition leaders said tension was running high at Everest base camp after last Friday's incident, which has rekindled debate on the disproportionate risks that sherpas take helping foreign mountaineers reach the 8,850-metre summit.
    Ang Tshering Sherpa, president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, told Reuters that although some sherpas had proposed suspending work for the rest of this climbing season, they had now agreed to resume expeditions on Saturday.
    The government said the minimum insurance cover for sherpas on Everest would be raised by 50 percent to about $15,000 and it would establish a relief fund for the welfare of bereaved families and also pay for the education of their children.

    "The difference of current insurance arrangements and those in future to be provided by the government has been decided to the committee to follow up," Tourism Ministry Joint Secretary, Madhu Sudan Burlakoti, said.

    "On the question of all demands being met, yes it has been decided to meet with all the demands and the government is assured that climbing will be continued on Everest," Burlakoti added.
    In addition to the 13 sherpas killed on the Khumbu Icefall, one of the most dangerous parts of the climb to Everest, three are missing and at least three more are being treated for serious injuries in the capital Kathmandu.
    The men were trying to fix ropes and crack snow and ice to carve out a route for foreign climbers through the icefall, located not far above Everest Base Camp, when they were caught in the avalanche.
    The government initially announced an immediate payment of $400 to the victims' families to cover funeral costs.
    Until now there has been no provision for government compensation for sherpas hired by international expeditions to carry gear, and in the past these groups have provided financial assistance on their own in the case of accidents.
    Guiding foreign climbers is the main livelihood for sherpas, helping them make up to $7,000 - and some even more - each year in a country with an average annual income of just over $700.
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