Mount Everest glacier melt exposing climbers' dead bodies, experts warn

 Mount Everest.

Climbing Mount Everest is one of the biggest challenges in the world, and sadly nearly 300 climbers have died during the feat.

Now, experts have warned that as glaciers on the mountain melt, the dead bodies of many of these climbers are being exposed.

Ang Tshering Sherpa, former president of Nepal Mountaineering Association, said: “Because of global warming, the ice sheet and glaciers are fast melting and the dead bodies that remained buried all these years are now becoming exposed.

"We have brought down dead bodies of some mountaineers who died in recent years, but the old ones that remained buried are now coming out."

Unsurprisingly, moving these dead bodies is no mean feat, especially since Nepal’s law requires government involvement to deal with bodies.

Most of the bodies have been surfacing in an area called the Khumbu Icefall, while other have been exposed in an area called South Coll.

Speaking to BBC News, an official said: “Hands and legs of dead bodies have appeared at the base camp as well in the last few years.

 Khumbu Glacier.

"We have noticed that the ice level at and around the base camp has been going down, and that is why the bodies are becoming exposed.”

The findings are backed up by several studies, which have shown that many glaciers in the Himalayas are melting and thinning.

The Khumbu Glacier is also moving, which doesn’t help the matter.

Tshering Pandey Bhote, vice president of Nepal National Mountain Guides Association, said: “Because of the movement of the Khumbu Glacier, we do get to see dead bodies from time to time.

 "But most climbers are mentally prepared to come across such a sight.”

While removing these bodies is important, it isn’t a cheap process.

According to experts, it costs up to Sh8 million to bring down dead bodies.