6 climbers dead or missing this week in the Himalayas

Two mountaineers have died on Nepal's famous Himalayan peaks, while another two climbers were missing, officials said Friday.

Indian climber Ravi Thakar, 28, died Thursday while sleeping in his tent at Mount Everest's highest camp site, according to Thaneswar Guragai of the Seven Summit Treks, which organized the expedition. Thakar had successfully scaled the 8,850-metre summit, but did not appear to be well on the way back and was discovered to have died a few hours after entering his tent.

Also on Thursday, Indian climber Narayan Singh fell sick and died on Mount Makalu and attempts are still being made to bring down his body, said Mira Acharya, a director at Nepal's Department of Tourism.

An Irish climber, Seamus Lawless, was missing after falling while returning from Everest's summit, Acharya said.

A Chilean climber is missing on Mount Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest peak, where two Indian climbers died earlier this week.

Hundreds of foreign climbers and their guides attempt to scale Nepal's high Himalayan peaks during the popular spring climbing season that begins around March and ends this month.

Among those who achieved summits this week is Saray N'kusi Khumalo, a 47-year-old e-commerce executive from South Africa.

It is believed she is the first black African woman to conquer Mount Everest, although Nepal's tourism department did not note that distinction in confirming her ascent.