Government to help Indian mountaineer stranded in Nepal

The government will bear all expenses of hospitalisation and journey back home of Indian woman mountaineer Seema Goswami, who is stranded in Nepal after having climbed Mount Everest, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday.

"Seema is stranded in Nepal as she is unable to pay for her return and hospital expenses," Sushma tweeted referring to a media report on Goswami's plight.

"We will assist Seema in all possible manner. We will bear all expenses of her hospitalisation and journey back home," she said.

Referring to the media report, the minister tweeted: "Seema Goswami - Jagran dated 29 May reported the story of Seema Goswami who has climbed Mount Everest."

Goswami, who suffered severe frostbite injuries near Camp IV while descending from Mount Everest summit, was airlifted to a Kathmandu hospital earlier this month.

After recovering in the hospital, she was shifted to a hotel in Kathmandu.

Goswami had gone on the Everest expedition organised by the Seventh Summit Group.

The 27-year-old, a resident of Siwan village in Haryana's Kaithal district, had to spend Rs.15 lakh (Rs.1.5 million) for the expedition.

The media report quoted Goswami as saying she needs Rs.700,000 to pay for her relief and hospital expenses failing which the expedition agency would not issue her the certificate for her feat.

Goswami also said she was financially not in a position to return home.

--IANS

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