KATHMANDU, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Nepal Army teams sent to collect waste on mountains have retrieved two more bodies, including one from Mount Qomolangma, the world's tallest peak, the national force reported on Wednesday.
One body was recovered at an altitude of 8,420 meters on Mount Qomolangma, while the other was found at 7,900 meters on Mount Lhotse, the fourth highest peak in the world. The bodies have been handed over to the forensic lab at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, according to an army statement.
On May 16, the army teams recovered two other bodies and skeletal remains on the two peaks.
In addition to the bodies, the teams have collected 11,000 kg of waste by Wednesday.
Starting on April 11, the Nepal Army deployed three teams to pick up waste on Mount Qomolangma (8,848 meters), Mount Lhotse (8,516 meters), and Mount Nuptse (7,861 meters) with the support of Nepali Sherpa climbers.
The Nepal Army planned to collect 10 tons of waste and retrieve five bodies from the peaks. This year's cleaning campaign is scheduled to conclude on June 5.
The Nepal Army began collecting waste on various mountains in 2019, but the mission was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ■