Indian and Filipino Climbers Tragedy on Everest Claims Lives

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Tragic Losses on Mount Everest During the Climbing Season

In a heartbreaking incident, an Indian climber and a fellow mountaineer from the Philippines became the first fatalities of the current climbing season on Mount Everest, which spans from March to May, as reported by hiking officials on Friday.

Subrata Ghosh, a 45-year-old from India, tragically passed away on Thursday while descending from the summit of the world’s highest peak, specifically at a location known as the Hillary Step. According to Bodhraj Bhandari of Snowy Horizon Treks and Expedition, Ghosh had made the difficult decision to refuse to descend from that point.

Further details were not provided, but it is important to note that the Hillary Step resides in the so-called "death zone," an area situated above 8,000 meters (26,250 feet) where oxygen levels are perilously low for human survival.

Bhandari remarked, “We are working to retrieve his body to base camp. The exact cause of his death will only be determined after an autopsy.”

Meanwhile, Philippine climber Philipp II Santiago, also 45, lost his life late Wednesday at the South Col while attempting to summit. Himalayan tourism official Himal Gautam shared that Santiago succumbed to exhaustion in his tent after reaching the fourth high camp.

Both Santiago and Ghosh were part of an international expedition organized by Bhandari.

This season, Nepal has granted 459 climbing permits for Everest, with nearly 100 climbers and their guides reaching the summit this past week. Mountain climbing, trekking, and tourism are vital sources of income for Nepal, a nation grappling with poverty.

Since the advent of summit attempts over a century ago, at least 345 individuals have lost their lives on Everest, as per statistics from the Himalayan database and various hiking officials.