A mountaineer from India India has died on Mount Everest while descending from the summit, suffering symptoms of altitude sickness, making her the second fatality on this world peak with this climbing season, said officials.
A 45-year-old climber Subrata Ghosh from West Bengal, died just below the Hillary Step, which is a treacherous part close to the 8,848.86-metre (29,032-foot) summit. As per the Himalayan Times Ghosh was part of the Mountaineering Association of Krishnanagar–Snowy Everest Expedition 2025, submitted late Saturday afternoon.
“Ghosh reached the summit around 2 p.m. but began to show signs of exhaustion and altitude sickness during the descent,” said Bodhraj Bhandari, Managing Director at Snowy Horizon Treks, the company organizing the expedition. “He eventually refused to continue moving down.”
His Sherpa guide, Champal Tamang, attempted to persuade him to go back down the mountain, but was not able to convince him. Tamang came down alone to Camp IV late Thursday night and notified officials about the situation Friday morning.
As of now, plans are being made for the retrieval of Ghosh’s body and its transport back to base camp. The cause of his death will be determined after an autopsy.
The Hillary Step is within the “death zone” — an elevation over 8,000 metres where oxygen is severely depleted — it has been perilous for climbers attempting to conquer the last leg to the summit and back.
Earlier this week, another climber, 45-year-old Philipp II Santiago from the Philippines, died at the South Col, which is the high-altitude camp at the base of the summit. Santiago reportedly got to Camp IV on May 14, and became incredibly exhausted, dying while resting in his tent later.
Both Ghosh and Santiago were on international expeditions by Snowy Horizon Treks.
This season so far, Nepal’s Department of Tourism has approved 459 climbing permits to scale Everest. Over 100 climbers and guides have already reached the summit. More than 50 climbers scaled Everest this week alone.
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