Kathmandu, October 13
Nepal and China will soon jointly announce the new height of Mount Everest that lies near the border between two countries, concerned officials in Nepal confirm.
Nepal had launched a measurement mission in April 2019. It has been learned that the Nepali side already completed its task almost a year ago but is waiting for the Chinese side to finalise a date for the announcement.
Although Nepal had planned the remeasurement of the Everest height, believed to be altered by the 2015 earthquake, on its own, the two countries made an agreement in October last year to announce the height jointly. Following that, China measured the height of Everest from the northern side in May this year.
“We are ready for the announcement. No technical work is left before the announcement,” Department of Survey’s Information Officer Damodar Dhakal says.
Meanwhile, the department is consulting the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation about how to make the announcement, it has been learned.
Officials say the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should take a lead in negotiating a date with China. However, the ministry refused to comment.
Until the new announcement comes in, the official height of the tallest peak of the world is 8,848 metres.
