April 19, Kathmandu - According to the Department of Tourism, three Russian climbers who were said to have lost contact during the first Annapurna ascent came in contact. The department said all three climbers were safe and one of them had been dropped off at a base camp.

Mira Acharya, director of the department's mountaineering branch, said she had received information that the three Russian climbers were safe. "They are not lost, but they have not been in touch for some time." As long as we get information, they are safe," said by Acharya. "The situation is not complicated."

According to him, it is not clear whether he completed the ascent or not. However, she said that while returning from the ascent, she was informed that there was a delay in descending from Camp Four to Camp Two. ‘Camp Four has been delayed from falling to two. One fell in front, the other two delayed, 'she said.

At present, 44 people in four different groups have taken permission from the department for the first Annapurna Arohan. This season, 654 people from 73 groups have taken permission to climb 16 different mountains. Of them, 148 are women climbers, according to the department.