Everest avalanche killed 9!

Kathmandu: In one of the deadliest accidents on the world's highest peak, an avalanche swept the slopes of Mount Everest early Friday, killing at least nine people.

"Nine people have died, we have rescued five others", said Tourism Ministry official Madhusudan Burlakoti.

Earlier, the death toll was put at six. 

Meanwhile, an expert has termed this accident as the "most deadly" in mountain's history!

The previous record was in 1996 when eight people from an expedition died in a tragedy immortalised in the best-selling book "Into Thin Air", said Kathmandu-based Elizabeth Hawley, who runs the Himalayan Database and is regarded as the leading authority on Himalayan mountaineering.

The avalanche occurred at around 6:45 am (0100 GMT) at an altitude of about 5.800 metres (19.000 feet) in an area known as the "popcorn field", which lies on the route into the treacherous Khumbu icefall, Sherpa said. 

Tourism Ministry spokesman, Mohan Krishna Sapkota, said the climbers were all Nepalese and were preparing the route to the summit ahead of the summer climbing season which kicks off later this month. 

"The sherpa guides were carrying up equipment and other necessities for climbers, when the disaster happened", Sapkota told a news agency.

Another Tourism Ministry official said three rescue helicopters had been deployed to scour the site and airlift the injured to safety. 

Hundreds of climbers, their guides and support guides had gathered at the base camp, gearing up for their final attempt to scale the 8.850-meter (29.035-foot) peak early next month when weather conditions will get favourable.

Rescuers and fellow climbers rushed to help, as soon as the avalanche hit.

Nepal's government also announced plans to double the number of climbing ropes on congested ice walls near the summit of Everest. 

Authorities have also stationed soldiers and police at Everest base camp starting this month so climbers can approach officers in case of any trouble following a brawl between commercial climbers and Nepalese guides, last year.