Mount Everest Climbers Must Use Tracking Chips, Nepalese Authorities: Short Search And Rescue In Case Of Accident

Climbing Mount Everest. (Wikimedia Commons/Debasish biswas kolkata)

JAKARTA - Nepalese authorities announced new requirements, all prospective climbers must rent and use tracking chips during the climb, ahead of the new season of climbing Mount Everest 2024.

"Businesss are known to have used it, but now it is mandatory for all climbers," Nepal's Tourism Department Director Rakesh Gurung told CNN, as reported March 20.

"This will shorten search and rescue times in the event of an accident," he continued.

Furthermore, he explained, later the climbers will pay 10-15 US dollars (Rp158,141-Rp237,212) for each of these chips.

Later, the chip is sewn into a climber's jacket. Once the climber drops, the chip will be retrieved, for the next climber to use.

Furthermore, the tracking chip uses a global position-determining system (GPS) to share information with satellites.

Gurung added that the chips were produced in "European countries" but did not specify where or by which companies.

It is known, the majority of people who try to climb Mount Everest as high as 8,849 meters (29,032 feet) do so via Nepal, by paying $11,000 per person just for climbing permits. Coupled with the price of equipment, food, added oxygen, Sherpa guides and more, it costs more than $35,000 to climb mountains per person.

Eight of the world's top ten are in Nepal, and the country is gaining significant tourism revenue from mountain climbing.

It took up to two months to complete climbing Mount Everest. The weather is suitable for climbing at a very short time, usually in mid-May.

Last year, Nepal set a record by issuing 478 climbing permits. Twelve climbers were confirmed dead on the mountain, while the other five are still officially missing.

It is known that saving on the "network of the world" is very risky, even in the best condition.

In 2023, 30-year-old Gelje Sherpa missed its own chance to reach the top in order to make a bold save against a Malaysian climber on Everest' "death zone".

"It is almost impossible to save climbers at that height," Bigyan Koirala Tourism Department official told Reuters at the time.