Bad weather forced three Sherpa brothers to abandon their bid to set a world record by spending 24 hours on the summit of Mt. Qomolangma, THT Online reported Wednesday.

Pemba Dorje Sherpa, 30, and his two younger brothers reached the summit on May 19 but were forced down after only two hours, Pemba told reporters after returning to Nepali capital Kathmandu on Wednesday.

"Foul weather forced us to abandon the mission.There was too much snowfall on the peak and it was very windy," he said.

"Had we stayed there ignoring the weather conditions, we would not have returned alive."

After their failed May 19 attempt, the brothers again pushed for the summit on May 23 but were forced to turn back.

The record stay at the top of Qomolangma is held by the late Nepalese mountaineer Babu Chhiri, who in 1999 spent at least 21 hours at the summit without extra oxygen.

Pemba, who holds the record for the fastest ascent of Mt. Qomolangma, at eight hours and 10 minutes, said that he would attempt to break Chhiri's record in the next climbing season.

(Xinhua News Agency May 28, 2009)