Nepal urges Everest climbers to bring back your empty oxygen tanks to help conquer COVID

Kathmandu, May 10

As Nepal struggles with a second wave of the coronavirus, the Nepal Government has asked the Everest Climbers to bring back their empty oxygen tanks.

The country has issued more than 700 climbing permits for the April-May climbing season.

It is estimated that more than 3,500 oxygen bottles are carried by Sherpa guides and climbers, which often get abandoned on the mountain slopes.

The country is seeing 4000+ new cases on a single day. The Nepal Mountaineering Association has requested climbers to help fight against the ongoing situation of coronavirus.

It is reported that many hospitals are unable to take any more patients due to a lack of both gas and canisters.

"We appeal to climbers and sherpas to bring back their empty bottles wherever possible as they can be refilled and used for the treatment of the coronavirus patients who are in dire need," Gurung told Reuters.