KATHMANDU: The body of an Indian climber was spotted on Mount Everest on Monday, the fourth fatality during a busy and tragic weekend on the world’s highest peak.

Sherpa rescuers spotted the body of Indian climber Ravi Kumar, but it was impossible to retrieve the body, said Thupden Sherpa of Arun Treks and Expedition. It appeared that Kumar had fallen some 200 metres (650 feet) below the route, he said.

Climbers from the United States, Slovakia and Australia also died on the mountain over the weekend. Because of bad weather conditions, climbing to the summit had been delayed this year, leading to a rush in the last few days to get to the summit.

Kumar, 27, fell sick on his way down from the summit on Saturday and did not make it to the nearest camp, though his accompanying Nepalese Sherpa guide did reach camp. The guide also was sick but managed to drag himself to the camp at South Col, located at 8,000 metres (26,247 feet).

Kumar and his guide reached the 8,850-metre-high (29,035-foot-high) summit at about 1:30pm on Saturday, which is considered late, and not many climbers were around when they were returning.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2017