Kathmandu: Stakeholders have expressed concern that the government has not responded adequately to allegations of feeding poisonous food to foreign climbers and carrying out fake rescues during expeditions on Mount Everest.
At a programme organised by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation in Kathmandu, they said international media reports on poisoning and fake rescues have tarnished the sector’s image.
Mountain climbing remains the backbone of Nepal’s tourism industry, generating significant annual revenue. Stakeholders argued that amplifying such incidents in international media at the start of the climbing season is not in the sector’s interest. With the Chinese side of Everest closed this season, they noted increased pressure on the Nepali route and urged the government to promptly refute misinformation.
Everest’s youngest climber, Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, called on the government to immediately deny the reports and take action against those spreading false information. He said the news has undermined the dignity of Sherpas and mountain guides and demanded a formal press statement to counter it.
President of Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) Sagar Pandey said the current situation stems from the failure to implement guidelines on fake rescues introduced in 2075 BS, adding that this has damaged Nepal’s global reputation. President of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) Phur Gelje Sherpa urged the government to establish a central mechanism to monitor climbers’ food and nutrition.
Rishi Bhandari, General Secretary of Expedition Operators’ Association Nepal, dismissed reports that climbers themselves are involved in fake rescues and called for verification. He stressed the need for a centralised rescue coordination system, with all rescue operations conducted through a single mechanism, and urged the government to introduce an on-arrival insurance system.
Former NMA President Nima Nuru Sherpa and Airlines Operators Association of Nepal President Pratap Jung Pandey said all stakeholders must be held accountable for fake rescues, calling for stricter regulation, including fixed rates for rescue operations. Pandey noted that while helicopter rescue charges are relatively low, long-line rescues carry higher risks and therefore lack fixed pricing.
Department of Tourism Director General Ram Krishna Lamichhane said improving the effectiveness of rescue flights is essential to safeguard the tourism sector. He added that the Central Investigation Bureau is probing the matter and that those involved in fake rescues will be brought to justice.
Ministry Secretary Mukunda Niraula said the government will study the issue and take necessary steps.
