Nepal observes first anniversary of Everest tragedy

Kathmandu: Nepal, on Saturday, paid a moving tribute to 16 mountain guides, mostly Sherpas, who were killed in an avalanche on Mount Everest a year ago.

A program, as part of the first death anniversary, was organized in Kathmandu by Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) to pay tribute to the victims of the disaster.

A group of Sherpas, who were going up the mountain, were hit by an avalanche on April 18 last year.

The speakers at the event on Saturday described the day as a black day in the history of Nepal's mountaineering.

All mountaineering activities had come to a halt in the region after the disaster. It lead to the demands for better compensation and higher benefits for the victim's families.

NMA has established a Relief and Educational Support (MDRES) Fund to help the families of the deceased mountain guides and support the educational and other needs of their children.

Ang Tshering Sherpa, president of NMA has asked all concerned to help establish a basket fund so as to support the family members of the victims.

A moment of silence for the victims was observed at the Everest base camp by a group of climbers.

Nepal is home to eight of the world's 14 peaks of over 8,000 meters and mountaineering is a great source of revenue for the Himalayan nation.