Families of Everest avalanche victims still await payouts

More than two months after the deadliest accident in Mount Everest's history, relatives of the victims said today that they have yet to receive compensation and insurance payments promised by the government.
The government initially pledged USD 400 for the families of the 16 Nepalese guides killed in the April 18 avalanche, but later hiked the compensation to USD 5,000 after angry sherpas protested the sum was too small.
The families are also entitled to life insurance payments of USD 10,000.
"We haven't received a single rupee from the government," said Menuka Gurung, 25, the wife of avalanche victim Ash Bahadur Gurung.

Gurung, a housewife with two children, said she had been living on handouts from Western climbers since the accident.
Chhechi Sherpa, the 19-year-old daughter of victim Ang Kaji Sherpa, also said the government had not contacted her family about compensation.

"The country earns so much in royalties from mountaineering. It's disheartening that they don't care about the families of the people who sustain the industry," she said.
The avalanche victims, who all worked as guides on the world's highest peak, were their families' main bread-winners.
The tourism ministry blamed bureaucracy for the payment delays.
"We're committed to addressing the demands," a senior tourism ministry official, Madhusudan Burlakoti, told AFP.

"The file has been forwarded to the finance ministry and the funds will be released after the process is completed," he said.
Ramesh Prasad Dhamala, president of Nepal's Trekking Agencies Association, said the government should "honour its promises on time".
"We will intensify efforts for compensation if the delay continues," he added.
Nepal's government earned USD 3.6 million this year from Everest climbing fees after issuing permits to 734 people.
But the latest climbing season ended with only one successful summit after climbers abandoned their plans following the deadly avalanche.