Nepalese police investigate high-altitude Everest brawl

Police near Mount Everest are investigating reports of a fight on the upper reaches of the world's highest mountain between two foreign climbers and their Nepalese guides, officials said on Sunday. "We were told our clients and the guides fought on their way to camp three. We don't have all the details yet, but our clients have come down off the peak," said Anish Gupta of Cho-Oyu Trekking, the Kathmandu-based company that organised the expedition.

The fight occurred somewhere between Camp 2 and Camp 3. One of the climbers, a Swiss national, had descended the world's tallest mountain and was headed back to Kathmandu. The other, an Italian national, was at base camp and considering another climbing attempt. The Italian climber has been identified as Simboli Morno and the Swiss man as Wool Stick. They received minor injuries in the attack following a dispute with the Nepali Sherpa guides.



They were taken down to base camp late afternoon on Saturday after the incident, but were warned against giving up the expedition and returning home if the Government of Nepal did not ensure their security. "We have convinced them to this effect for the time being and kept them in the base camp”, said Director of  Cho-Oyu Trekking, Ngima Nuru Sherpa. "If the climbers are thrashed during their journey, it would not give positive message to the country. It would be disrepute to our country's security and managerial system,” summed up Sherpa.

Meanwhile, Chief District Officer of Solukhumbu, and Chief of the Police expressed commitment to arrest the guilty of the incident investigating the case and provide necessary security to the foreigners. CDO Sitaram Karki, said, "It is out of our reach due to the distance. We have received the news that the foreigners were thrashed and that we will deploy our team immediately to investigate the case."