Dipankar Ghosh untraceable on Makalu since last evening, agency talks about his survival

Dipankar Ghosh has gone missing above Camp-4 (above 8000m) while descending from Makalu summit yesterday. He supposedly reached the summit point in the afternoon and was stuck high above 8000m with one other climber from a 18-member team of Indian Army, as Dipankar’s climbing agency confirmed while speaking to Dream Wanderlust. His Sherpa too got injured and reportedly left Dipankar high above Camp-4. Dipankar's last contact with the Base camp was around 7:00pm on 16th May.

In an exclusive interview to Dream Wanderlust, Agency Seven Summit Treks explains the possibility of his survival and Rescue.

Q: We have come to know that Indian climber Dipankar Ghosh has gone missing last night. Could you please enlighten us more on that?

A: Yes, according to what we know so far, he has gone missing above Camp-4 (above 8000m) while descending from Makalu summit yesterday.

Q: Do you have exact information on how above he went missing from?

A: No, we are yet to receive accurate evidence on that. But it is certain that he was stuck high above 8000m with one other climber from a 16-member team of Indian Army.

Q: May we ask about the Sherpa who accompanied him during the expedition?

A: I will have to check our database for correct information on that. I am outside office at this moment.

Q: Okay. Since when is he reported to have gone missing yesterday?

A: He supposedly reached the summit point in the afternoon between 12-1pm on 16th May. We are trying to get in touch with his insurance agency, but it would be very difficult for us to start the rescue operation right away, since there are already a lot of climbers strck high in the mountains.

Q: What about the climber from Indian Army Team? Could anyone from other team get him any help?

A: They were left behind very late at night. Few of them were already exhausted and possibly frostbitten too. Apart from Dipankar and the left Indian Army soldier, other 15 members from the Army Team are about to reach back at Camp-2 any moment now, as per the latest report received from their agency. It is also believed that few of their Sherpa team might have got frostbite during the descent.

Q: What is the last piece of information you received about them from the Base Camp?

A: Regrettably, we are not being able to establish any connection with the Base Camp. Therefore, we hardly have any option other than waiting for them to reach out to us. It is only one-way now.

Q: There must be another mode of communication. Are you sure there, indeed, isn’t any?

A: It might be the case Mingma Sherpa has a satellite phone with him, used only for emergency purposes and most likely to be switched off.

Q: What do you think about them being back at the Base Camp all safe and sound?

A: It is yet very doubtful for us to predict anything on that. Since the weather is also on the mode of worsening again, we hardly think that even a highly skilled Sherpa can rescue and bring them down.

Q: Was the Indian Army Team parallelly on the route of ascension with Dipankar?

A: Though exactly not together, but they left the Base Camp almost at the same time.

Q: Did both the Army Personnel and Dipankar get stuck nearby each other?

A: Not exactly so. But highly possible.

Q: What kind of injury do you think they might have been faced with?

A: Most likely, frostbitten. Until the rest of them come back, it would be difficult to comment on that.

Q: When was the last time you could contact the descending team?

A: It was approximately at 7pm and they told Dipankar with the Army personnel got stuck above 8000m.

Q: How do you know whether the Sherpa is alright?

A: Again, it is yet to be confirmed once they descend down to Base Camp.

Photo Courtesy: Dipankar Ghosh archive