KATHMANDU: The mortal remains of climbers who perished in an avalanche on Yalung Ri mountain last year were brought to Kathmandu this afternoon.

“Four bodies including those of Italian-Canadian guide Marco Di Marcello, Italian Markus Kirchler, German Jakob Schreiber, and Nepali guide Mere Karki have been airlifted from Na Gaun in the Rolwaling region and are now at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu,” said record-holding mountaineer Phurba Tenzing Sherpa, who coordinated the recovery mission on Yalung Ri.

Photo Courtesy: Recovery team

A recovery team led by Sherpa, along with Heli Everest captains Priya Adhikari and Pastenji Sherpa and local rescuer Baburam Thakuri, successfully retrieved the bodies of five climbers who went missing in the avalanche on Yalung Ri peak on November 3 last year.

“We have handed over Padam Tamang’s body to his family in Charikot, Dolakha district, as they wished to perform the final rituals in their home village,” Sherpa shared.

After waiting three days for fair weather, the team recovered the bodies yesterday from an altitude of 5,400m. The remaining four bodies will be handed over to their respective families at TU Teaching Hospital, according to Sherpa. The families of Marco, Markus, and Jakob have already arrived in Kathmandu to identify and receive their loved ones.

Since mid-June, Sherpa and his team worked tirelessly to locate the five climbers. “Finally, two of our staff located them on Thursday morning. After waiting three days for a safe weather window, the team reached the site and recovered all five bodies yesterday,” Sherpa shared.

Photo Courtesy: Recovery team

Two of the climbers—Marco Di Marcello and Padam Tamang—were part of the Dolma Khang expedition organized by Dreamers Destination Treks; the other three were with Wilderness Outdoor.

“This mission was about bringing five beautiful souls home to their families after nine months of uncertainty, hope, and waiting—and doing so with dignity, respect, and care,” Sherpa added.

Sherpa also thanked the local rescuer, helicopter crew, pilot, Dolakha Administration Office, District Police Office, consulates and embassies, Department of Tourism, families, and individuals who helped make this difficult recovery possible.

The November 3 avalanche buried seven climbers, including five foreigners, while five others were injured. The bodies of Italian climber Paolo Cocco and French national Christian Andre Manfredi were recovered on November 5, shortly after the avalanche.