Indian climber Sunita Hazara returns home from Kathmandu

Indian climber Sunita Hazara, who was rescued after going missing while attempting to scale Mount Everest and hospitalised in Kathmandu, arrived in the eastern metropolis on Saturday.

 

Hazara was among the group of climbers who had gone missing during an expedition to climb Mountain Everest. Three Indian nationals have died so far.

 

West Bengal Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Aroop Biswas, who received the wheel chair-driven Hazara at the airport, said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is monitoring the situation herself.

 

"Banerjee is monitoring herself. We will hospitalise Sunita," Biswas said.

 

The frostbite-afflicted Hazara admitted she doubted her survival chances given her condition due to lack of oxygen.

 

"It was very tough. I never thought I would return alive. Due to lack of oxygen, I fainted and it was then that I understood that it would be a challenge to return home," a wheezing Hazara told the media here.

 

Quizzed on her next attempt, Hazara said she was undecided.

 

"Last year I thought I would not go due to the Nepal earthquake and avalanches. But the pull of the mountains led me to climb again. I can't say now. I want to give time to my family and the rest depends on time," she said. - IANS