Had the 82-year-old former politician climbed the highest peak in the world, he would have set the new world record. But fate had other plans for Shailendra Kumar Upadhyaya -- the first octogenarian to attempt 8,850- meter Mt Everest -- who passed on the way to Camp 1 -- at the height 6,350 metre -- from Everest base camp today afternoon.
"He was nearing Camp 1 from the base camp but suffered altitude sickness leading to his death," said Nepal Mountaineering Association president Zimba Zangbu Sherpa.
Upadhayaya wanted to prove that elderly people are also capable of climbing mountains. "Mountaineering is often associated with physical strength but one has to be mentally strong to accomplish this climb," he had said before flying off to base camp for acclimatisation on April 18.
The silver-haired octogenarian was accompanied by five guides and Sherpas to the base camp.
When he said, he would attempt for the Mt Everest no one believed him but he had been preparing himself for the ascent. Upadhayaya had climbed 6,467-metre Mera Peak and 6,160-metre Island Peak -- popularly known as 'trekker peaks' -- in the Everest region some years ago to prepare himself to attempt the highest peak in the world. He had also undergone a series of training exercises.
Min Bahadur Sherchan, who climbed the peak at age of 76 in 2008, holds the world record of climbing the highest peak at the oldest age. Upadhayaya would have beat him, had he been successful in climbing Mt Everest.
A well-known politician Upadhayaya was born in Banares in India. He joined the Indian National Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942 to fight against the British rulers.
He joined the Communist Party of Nepal in 1950 but later joined the Panchayat politics. He also served as Nepal's ambassador to the UN from 1972 to 1978 and became Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1986 to 1990.
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