 |
|
|
 |
|
IPPG Newsletters: January 1999
Death of a Porter: a Witness Report |
|
| Dr Jim Duff |
|
Shyam Bahadur Nepali was a mountain porter who died in the night of the 25th Oct 1997. This is an account, as best as we can piece it together, of his death. Shyam was 24 years old and engaged by a commercial trekking group, to carry their equipment over the Thorung-La, a 5416 meter pass on the Annapurna Circuit. On the morning of the 24th October, near the top of the pass, Shyam felt unwell and could no longer carry his load. We don't know his exact medical condition when he was paid his wages and dismissed, but we do know that snow was falling steadily and that he was sent back alone without adequate clothing for the cold conditions. We also know that he wasn't given enough money to effect a rescue if needed. A short distance below where he was dismissed Shyam stopped at a teashop and was vomiting and complaining of a severe headache, which are signs of mountain sickness, particularly cerebral edema (HACE).
Much later that day, Shyam arrived at a half-constructed lodge in the tiny settlement of Letdar (4200 meters). The builder reported that Shyam was cold and exhausted. He was given a blanket and some food, and he settled down on the boards for the night. At 10 AM the next day, Shyam collapsed and became severely ill.
He didn't receive any treatment until 5 PM, when Todd Routledge, an American climber, arrived and was asked to see him. Todd reported that Shyam was unable to stand, had great difficulty breathing and was coughing up frothy sputum, signs of pulmonary edema (HAPE). Todd gave the necessary medications to help treat altitude illness (HACE and HAPE). This improved Shyam's condition sufficiently for an attempt to carry him down to us at the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) aid post in Manang. Three thousand rupees (US $50) were collected from trekkers and local people to pay two porters to carry him down. Gloves, hat, a blanket and a head torch were also donated.
It was dark and still snowing when the two porters set off at 7.30 PM to carry Shyam in a basket, down to Manang. The trail was treacherous with ice and snow, and they made slow progress down the mountain.
Three hours later, just an hour short of the HRA aid post, Shyam collapsed and died. His body lay by the trail for three days, a sad sight to the dozens of trekkers who passed by.
Yet another mountain porter has died because of the ignorance and neglect of those who employed him.
Comments: It is extremely difficult to know exactly how many porters die in this way every year on the trekking routes of Nepal. These deaths go unnoticed and unreported, unlike the hype and hysteria that greet the occasional deaths of climbers on well known mountains. In Shyam's case, it is highly likely the trekkers and even the leader did not know he was being dismissed. In Nepal, the sirdar (general trek manager) or the naike (porters' manager) is responsible for the porters.
It is the responsibility of trekking companies, their leaders and sirdars, and individual trekkers employing porters, to ensure their safety. IPPG recommends the guidelines mentioned above be followed.
Trekking companies also have a duty to train their leaders (local and foreign) in wilderness medicine and first aid, especially in the fields of acute mountain sickness and hypothermia. They must also provide adequate first aid kits and safety equipment as needed.
Trekkers intending to go trekking with commercial companies are encouraged to check before departure that the above conditions are being fulfilled, and complain or look at alternative companies if they are not.
|
|
|
|
