Trail route to Mount Qomolangma undamaged by quake: report

KATHMANDU - A total of 83 percent of houses along the trail route to the world's highest peak - Mount Qomolangma have not been affected by the April 25 earthquake, a seismic damage assessment report said.

The damage assessment report, jointly unveiled Friday by a global company Miyamoto International and the Nepali government, has concluded that the trail is safe and trekking can be resumed.

"Among 710 houses including tourist accommodation and local residences assessed, around 590 houses are undamaged and there are no signs of damage on nine major suspension bridges along the route," structural engineer and research head Kit Miyamoto said during a report hand-over ceremony held here.

The report prepared by a six-member team was handed over to the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mr. Kripasur Sherpa at the event.

According to the damage assessment research conducted in 15 villages starting from Lukla to Mount Qomolangma's base camp, the damage in the lower valley is greater than in the upper valley.

As per it, villages like Toktok and Benkar need repairing of the steep slopes since they witnessed rock-fall hazards and debris flow.

It further suggested moving the residents of these two villages to safer areas.

The report stated that the 17 percent damaged houses along the trail are repairable and house owners have already started the reconstruction tasks.

Meanwhile, recommendations in the report include rerouting a section of the trail and a follow up detailed engineering assessment after the monsoon.

At least 19 people were killed in a Mount Qomolangma avalanche which occurred in April this year and was triggered by the massive quake in the Himalayan nation that killed nearly 9,000 people.