Two Japanese mountaineers have been missing for six days while attempting to climb Gangapurna in Manang district of Nepal, with helicopter searches under way in the high-altitude area, The Tourism Times reported on Thursday.

Source: The Tourism Times

The climbers, who are reported to be from Tokyo, began their expedition on the 7,455-metre mountain with a Nepali guide after arranging the trip through Kathmandu-based Cosmo Adventure. Police said contact with them was lost from an altitude of around 7,050 metres, and their guide informed the company on October 16, according to the police account.

Helicopters have been deployed to search for the climbers. Police said a bag and a walking stick used by them were found during the search, but their whereabouts and condition remain unknown. Authorities said the search was continuing and their families had been informed.

ExplorersWeb, which covers Himalayan mountaineering, named the missing climbers as Hidesuke Taneishi and Tetsu Hashimoto and said they were attempting Gangapurna West, an unclimbed 7,140-metre peak, and had been out of touch since October 15 according to Japanese media reports. It said a Russian team that reached the mountain earlier this month found no sign of the Japanese climbers, and that bad weather had forced the Russians down from their own summit attempt at 6,800 metres.

Source: ExplorersWeb

Manang Chief District Officer Mukti Prasad Khanal has confirmed that a helicopter search-and-rescue operation is under way, ExplorersWeb reported, adding that difficult terrain and deteriorating conditions are making the search challenging.