JUMLA: Chandannath Municipality has put a ban to pluck rhododendron flowers in its vicinity in a bid to save its existence.

People are banned to pluck national flowers in wards 2 and 3 of Dhalthapala Community Forest area.

“We have launch a campaign to put a ban on plucking of  rhododendron flowers  as the rampant plucking will pose a threat to its existence,” said Birkha Bahadur Sarki, chairman of Dhalthapala Community Forest.

KATHMANDU: HIV-infected Gopal Shrestha, 56, is set to scale the Mt. Everest with an aim to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS, and to set a record to be the first Nepali living with the disease to conquer the top of the world.

“In fact, I also want to give the message that a HIV-infected person is equally strong enough to reach atop the Everest,” he said.

Shrestha, who hails from Pokhara-7, will leave for the Everest on April 12 along with Guinness Record-holder mountaineer Phurba Tenjing Sherpa, who is leading the team.

“I want to conquer the world’s highest peak with the determination that people living with HIV too are physically and mentally strong enough for any difficult tasks,” Shrestha told Khabarhub.

Shrestha, who contracted the disease through syringe injection some 25 years ago, said he lost all his hopes when the doctor told him that he would survive only for a couple of months.

“Look at me, I am still active and kicking after 25 years,” he quipped.

This is Shrestha’s second attempt to climb Mt. Everest. Earlier in 2015, he made a failed attempt after an avalanche on the Everest due to the devastating earthquake. He was injured then.

This season, he is climbing the Mt. Everest as a Step-up Campaign 2. The campaign has raised Rs 3 million rupees so far while he hopes of raising the rest of the amount in the next few days. According to him, he needs Rs. 4.35 million altogether.

Shrestha, in fact, has successfully climbed Thorong La Pass (5417m) in 2013, Island Peak (6189m) in 2014, and Virgin Peak /Khang Karpo (6646m) in 2016.

Shrestha, who is one among the 31,020 HIV-infected persons in the country, said though he took a ‘bold step forward’ to expose himself as HIV-infected, he could not change the people’s mindset and behavior. “People still hesitate to come close to the HIV-infected persons.”

He said he wanted to convey a clear and loud message that people living with HIV/AIDS are never physically weak. “It’s the determination and will-power all we need,” he told Khabarhub.

In fact, initially, his family did not permit him to take the risk. “My family members treated me like a sick person, which is a wrong notion.”

According to the National Centre for AIDS and STD Control, some 31020 people are infected from the HIV virus in Nepal whereas, some 16, 428 are taking regular treatment.

He expressed the optimism that he would be able to set a record in the Nepali New Year 2076 as “New Year, New landmark and New Record”.

KATHMANDU: As of Friday, a total of 46 expedition teams have been granted mountain climbing permits for this spring, according to the Department of Tourism.

The government has collected over Rs 255.6 million through the permits.

The teams receiving the climbing permits comprise 193 members. Of the collected revenue, Rs 240 million is collected from the mountaineering teams climbing the Mount Everest. As many as 19 teams are attempting to scale the world’s highest peak this time.

According to the Department, aspiring climbers have started flocking the destinations. Four expeditions are attempting each for climbing the Kanchenjunga and Lhotse peaks and two are each for the Annapurna and Ama Dablam, Department’s mountaineering section’s Nayab Subba Rameshwor Niruala said.

Permits have been given to two groups each for climbing Makalu, Nuptse and Gyalzen peaks.

The government has presently opened 415 mountain peaks for climbing and there are still over 1,300 mountains suitable for climbing.

KATHMANDU: Reaching atop the Everest can be a lifelong dream for an adventurer. In fact, a substantial number of tourists visit this Himalayan country, Nepal, with a long-cherished dream of ascending the Mt. Everest, the world’s highest peak.

So far, more than 9,000 people have successfully conquered the world’s highest summit after Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Edmund Hillary set their feet atop the summit, 8,848 meters, on May 29, 1953.

“Oh, in fact, I have no words to describe the feeling when I reached atop the Everest at the age of 19,” a cheerful Mingma recalls the ‘joyous’ moment.

Every year, Mount Everest attracts scores of audacious travelers and mountaineers, who believe reaching the top of the world is something more than finding the Holy Grail despite all odds. They risk avalanches, storms, ‘death zones’ and harsh temperatures in an attempt to summit the peak.

The success rate of climbing the mountain is getting high, due to the experienced Sherpas who have spent several years in the mountains, claims Mingma Gyabu Sherpa, a guide.

Born on May 16, 1989, in Taplejung, Mingma started his career as a porter in 2009. Full of enthusiasm and confidence, Mingma set on a mission to ascend the Everest in 2010 and succeeded in reaching the top of the world.

Talking with Khabarhub, Mingma recalled one of his neighbors, Dorje Khatri (died in 2014 due to the avalanche at Everest Base Camp), who encouraged him to climb the peak. “In fact, Khatri boosted my confidence,” Mingma said while recalling what Khatri had told him once: “Never look back”. In fact, Mingma never looked back. His only aim was to conquer the world’s tallest peak. And, he did it!

He, however, appealed to the government to categorize mountaineering guides and provide them with social security.

“Oh, in fact, I have no words to describe the feeling when I reached atop the Everest at the age of 19,” a cheerful Mingma recalls the ‘joyous’ moment.

Sharing what goes inside a mountaineer after conquering a peak, he said that summiteers become speechless for a moment. “You can’t express the moment once you set your feet there,” he quips.

It was in 2016 when Mingma, along with a team of five Sherpas, organized a rescue operation at the height of 8,600 meters of the Everest. He reminisces the moment when after three unceasing hours of struggle, they found two climbers — Chetana Sahu, 43, from Odisha’s Cuttack district in India and Phurba Sherpa – who were struggling for life.

“Both of them were in a critical condition with their supplementary oxygen running out. We safely took them to the South Col, the sharp-edged col between Mount Everest and Lhotse. They were so gratified that they told us we gave them a new life,” Mingma recalls those moments with pride.

In the course of time, Mingma was honored with Piolets d’Or Asia Awards under the Sherpa category for his commitment to technical face climbing and positive environmental stewardship in the mountains. The award aims to encourage and inspire Asian mountaineers who achieved pure and visionary ascents. With the award, he was recognized as the Sherpa of the Year 2019.

“There was no incident that made me look back or quit mountaineering. It was my dream and I have succeeded in all attempts I have so far made,” a contented Mingma told Khabarhub.

He, however, appealed to the government to categorize mountaineering guides and provide them with social security.

Mingma, however, is worried about the difficulties in climbing the Everest in recent times. “In fact, climbing the Everest has become tougher due to global warming,” he said, adding, “The Khumbu Icefall is melting faster due to global warming. Despite this, the climbing seems easy due to experienced guides and sophisticated equipment they use,” he shared.

Mingma claims that he is not climbing the mountains for records. His dream is to climb successfully 14 peaks and 7 summits.

In 2017, a British Gurkha soldier, Hari Budha Magar, who lost both his legs in Afghanistan, scripted history by successfully standing atop Mera Peak (6,476m) in the autumn climbing season. Magar became the first double amputee above the knee to climb the country’s highest trekking peak in the autumn season. Mingma had led Magar successfully to the peak.

Mingma says foreigners climb the mountains because of their interest, as well as to set a record. Mountaineers reply on the courageous Sherpas while climbing the Everest.

In the current year, Mingma successfully climbed Island Peak and is on the way to climb Mt. Annapurna (8,091m). He will then climb Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,167m), and Mt. Kanchanjunga (8,586m) in the same season. Likewise, he is also planning to climb four mountains of Pakistan.

Mingma claims that he is not climbing the mountains for records. His dream is to climb successfully 14 peaks and 7 summits.

SOLUKHUMBU: Chief Minister of State 1, Sherdhan Rai, has inaugurated the road linking Selleri to Khumbu Pasanglhamu-1 via Mapyadudhkoshi rural municipality.

Khumbu in Solukhumbu district is the gateway to Mt Everest.

Chief Minister Rai said the state government would make necessary arrangements of the required budget for the expansion of road from Khumbu Pasanglhamu rural municipality to Chaurikharka rural municipality.

Chief Minister Rai said the construction of the road would help promote tourism in the region.

On the occasion, he said the state government would declare the Khumbu Pasanglhamu rural municipality as ‘Tourism rural municipality’.

The rural municipality has been bringing in around 50,000 domestic and foreign tourists every year.

RAJBIRAJ: Rajbiraj airport of Saptari district has closed its air services from today after Shree Airlines limited its flights citing technical problems.

The air service at the Rajbiraj was brought into regular operation from June 24, 2018.

Initially, Shree Airlines had operated flights for five days a week. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said it has now completely closed the flights.

Suresh Mallik, Station Manager at the Shree Airlines, said that they closed the service as they have begun the repair and maintenance work of the aircraft engine.

He, however, said the Airlines closed its service at Rajbiraj airport for the time being.

KATHMANDU: Runway rehabilitation has begun at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in a full-fledged manner since last night. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), which is the regulatory body of aviation sector, has been entrusted for the up-gradation of the runway.

Sitaram Bhandari, Chief at the Air Traffic Controller (ATC), informed that the landing and takeoff of flights have not been disturbed. According to him, a Narrow Body Airbus of Nepal Airlines landed at the TIA this morning while and Jet Airbus took off of its first flight.

Domestic flights are also being operated smoothly from the airport.

The TIA has been closed for 10 hours a day for the next three months from April 1 for rehabilitation. Around 80 meters of the runway have been blacktopped in the first day of renovation, according to Baburam Poudel, Director of Air Transport Capacity Enhancement Project of CAAN.

The TIA would limit its service for 14 hours with the effect of renovation for the next three months.

The airport would remain open from 8.00 am to 10 pm every day during the rehabilitation. Earlier, the TIA was providing service from 6.00 am to 3.00 am.

In the course of rehab, the existing pitch of the runway would be removed and new pitch would be rehabilitated.

The CAAN had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Chinese Company, China National Agro Technology International Engineering Corporation for up-gradation of runway. The agreement of Rs 3.75 billion was signed with the company for the blacktopping of runway.

KATHMANDU: The Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) will remain closed for 10 hours every day from Monday night to upgrade runway.

The TIA, which now operates for 22 hours a day, will be shut down for 10 hours for three months beginning tomorrow. From tomorrow, the TIA will operate from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm every day.

This is the first time in history that the TIA runway is being upgraded after its establishment, according to Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).

CAAN said it will take at least three months to wipe out the old blacktopping and put the new one.

According to Raj Kumar Chhetri, General Manager at the TIA, the repair continues from 10:00pm to 8:00am every day.

Chhetri informed that it would, however, not affect the regular flights.

The TIA has given the contract to a Chinese company for the upgrading at the cost of Rs 3.75 billion, excluding tax.

KATHMANDU: Sometimes, records are made unknowingly. This happened in the life of Phurba Tenjing Sherpa – a proud recipient of two Guinness World Records.

On May 23, 2018, he climbed Mt. Everest with his siblings — Pemba Dorje Sherpa, Dawa Diki Sherpa, Phurba Thinley Sherpa – to set a record of the most number of siblings to ascend Mt. Everest concurrently. Did Phurba know that he was making a record by climbing with his siblings at the same time? “No, I only realized it later that we set a record,” he quips.

Born in 1988 at Rolwaling village in Dolakha, Phurba Tenjing started making a living as a porter at the age of 14. So far, he has guided a total of 23 Nepalis and a sizable foreigners to the peaks.

This young Sherpa also holds the record of ‘Most siblings to have climbed Everest” at different times. Seven out of the 11 offspring from Chhiring Nurbu Sherpa and Kimjung Sherpa have reached atop the Everest.

Photo: Thaneswar Guragai

Interesting! Phurba’s siblings, including Pemba Gyalzen Sherpa, Phurba Thundu Sherpa, Pemba Dorje Sherpa, Nima Gyalzen Sherpa, Dawa Diki Sherpa, Purba Thile Sherpa, and Phurba Tenjing have conquered the Mt. Everest. “Wasn’t that a moment to cherish?” he queries with a broad smile.

Born in 1988 at Rolwaling village in Dolakha, Phurba Tenjing started making a living as a porter at the age of 14. So far, he has guided a total of 23 Nepalis and a sizable foreigners to the peaks.

Photo: Thaneswar Guragai

In 2008 and in 2017, this enthusiastic Sherpa ascended the Everest twice in three days. He descended to Camp IV and climbed the peak again.

He reminisces those days when several porters came to the village from the lowlands and failing to cross the Tashi Lepsa Pass (5,750 m) to reach Lukla – a five-day trek — due to high altitude. “I then started working as a porter at a tender age,” he recalls. Barely three years working as a porter he made up his mind to give a try to climb the world’s highest peak. “I was able to gather the confidence, and finally I made it. I climbed the Everest from the Tibetan side with my eldest brother Pemba Dorje Sherpa in 2007,’ he told Khabarhub.

Before this, he made a failed attempt to ascend the Mt. Pumori (7,161 m) at the age of 16 years. “I could not reach the top due to an avalanche,” he recalls.

Sherpa community, he says, respect the mountains as God since they grow up in the lap of the mountains.
“We revere mountains as God like the way we love and respect our mothers,” he said.

Since then, there has been no looking back. “This boosted my morale,” says Phurba.

In 2008 and in 2017, this enthusiastic Sherpa ascended the Everest twice in three days. He descended to Camp IV and climbed the peak again.

He has also conquered Mt. Manaslu thrice. In 2011, he climbed Mt. Ama Dablam within ten days and stayed at the summit for a staggering 10 hours.

Photo: Thaneswar Guragai

Ask him what did he earn so far, and pat comes the reply: “The positive impression as well as the recommendation of being a hospitable guide and a supportive porter is what I have earned in all these years.”

Sherpa community, he says, respect the mountains as God since they grow up in the lap of the mountains.
“We revere mountains as God like the way we love and respect our mothers,” he said.

Phurba Tenjing, however, is saddened at the way the government has ignored the plights of Sherpa who guide mountaineers to the peak safely. “We feel overlooked,” he laments.

An adage, which he is accustomed to hearing from mountaineers, makes his chest broader. Consider this: “Everest can be conquered without oxygen, but not without the Sherpas.” What could be more heartening than this for Phurba and rest of the Sherpa porters and guides?

He is equally worried over the dwindling number of Sherpas in the mountaineering sector. “Youngsters have started losing interest in mountaineering as they are more options available. They prefer going abroad,” Phurba told Khabarhub.

Photo: Thaneswar Guragai

In the course of the conversation, Phurba gives a sad expression while reminiscing a horrific moment when an avalanche hit the Everest in the 2015 devastating earthquake that left him with a fractured backbone. “I never thought that I would survive,” he said adding, “Even now, I get scared while ascending.”

An adage, which he is accustomed to hearing from mountaineers, makes his chest broader. Consider this: “Everest can be conquered without oxygen, but not without the Sherpas.” What could be more heartening than this for Phurba and rest of the Sherpa porters and guides?

Photo: Thaneswar Guragai

By saying so, he also recalls the moment when he guided Rosha Basnet, a journalist, to the summit. “Rosha appreciated my support,” he says adding, “When God is always with us, why we need to fear?”

(With inputs from Thaneswar Guragai)