Indian climber pulled from crevasse in Nepal ‘improving’ in hospital

An Indian climber who was rescued after spending three days in a 300 metre-deep crevasse is recovering in a Kathmandu hospital but his condition is still critical, his family have said.

Anurag Maloo had fallen into the crevasse while descending Mount Annapurna, the world’s 10th highest mountain, on April 17. He was rescued on Thursday after several attempts.

“He is under medical supervision, but doctors are saying he is slowly improving,” his younger brother Ashish Maloo told reporters, adding that he remained in a critical condition.

He called the rescue and recovery “a miracle”.

After he was lifted out of the crevasse, Mr Maloo was flown to a hospital in the resort town of Pokhara.

“The doctor gave him CPR, he tried his best for next to three hours, which made his revival and that was a sign of relief for us,” Ashish Maloo said.

“There were so much emotions at that moment I can’t really express.”

Rescuers had struggled with bad weather, avalanches and the high altitude, and used thermal drones borrowed from the Nepal police and carbon dioxide detectors from the local Tribhuvan University to locate him.

Chhepal Sherpa, an experienced climber, was near Mr Maloo when he slipped and fell into the crevasse at an altitude of 5,700 metres.

He said that he and other guides tried to find him but did not have enough ropes and other equipment. Bad weather and avalanche prevented them from looking for him the next day. Helicopters were unable to fly.

Finally on Thursday, the weather improved and they were able to climb down the crevasse through a narrow opening into a larger cave-like area. Mr Sherpa said the rescuers spent hours inside the crevasse risking their own lives.

The spring mountaineering season has just begun in Nepal and hundreds of foreigners and local guides have begun climbing the highest peaks.