On its 250th anniversary, the Survey of India (SOI) to measure the height of Mount Everest

To celebrate its 250th anniversary, the Survey of India (SOI) olans to measure the height of Mount Everest. The SOI is an organization that was established in 1767 to map the subcontinent for the East India Company and it continues to remain India's principal mapping agency.
After the Nepal earthquake of 2015, there have been a speculation that the natural disaster may have moved the peak.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 25 January 2017.

The Survey of India (SOI) will make use of modern satellite-linked instruments and traditional trigonometry to determine the peak's altitude. This is currently documented through multiple surveys at 8,848 metres (29,029 feet) above sea level.
The new Everest-measurement exercise will depend on two techniques - (i) some scientists will climb the peak and use global positioning system (GPS) instruments to measure its altitude (ii) others will use high-school trigonometry techniques to measure the altitude from surrounding locations in the Himalayas.
Mount Everest was first granted the title of the world's highest peak in 1856 after nearly two years of observations by SOI scientists and others. Subsequently, many other agencies have measured the height of the mountain's peak and the value has remained constant.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Nepal extends validity of permits to climb Mount Everest

Climbing Mount Everest is the main source of revenue for Nepal but, the earthquakes of 2015 have seriously damaged the potentials. At least 19 climbers were killed in the massive earthquake when huge blocks of ice buried their tents at the base camp of the 8,850-metre (29,035 feet) Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain. Therefore, Nepal has extended the validity of the climbing permits of hundreds of foreigners who had been forced to abandon the Himalayas after twin earthquakes in 2015. This step has been taken to encourage them to return to the mountains. This has been reported in ibnlive.com dated 1 March 2016.

It seems more than 800 foreign climbers, each of whom had paid up to $11,000 for their permits, had to cancel their expeditions after the April quake triggered landslides and massive avalanches across the Himalayas. Hence, a decision has been taken to allow the climbers to climb on the same permit this year and in 2017. Hopefully this would see Nepal revive tourism that contributes four percent to GDP. The climbing season usually begins later this month but hiking officials say foreign bookings have dropped sharply. Moreover, Nepal's infrastructure was badly hit in the quakes and, coupled with a prolonged transport blockade along the border with India over a political dispute, it has further hit supplies of fuel and equipment.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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