Climbers Face Tragedy on Mount Everest

An Indian climber and a Philippine climber have tragically become the first fatalities on Mount Everest this climbing season, according to hiking authorities on Friday.

Subrata Ghosh, 45, from India, passed away under the Hillary Steps after reaching a height of 8,849 meters (29,032 feet) on Thursday. He reportedly refused to descend from that location, as noted by Bodhraj Bhandari, who is affiliated with a trekking and expedition organization in Nepal.

Details surrounding his death remain sparse. The Hillary Step is known to be in the “Death Zone,” situated above 8,000 meters (26,250 feet), where oxygen levels are insufficient for human survival.

Bhandari mentioned that efforts are being made to retrieve his body to the base camp, but the exact cause of death will only be determined later.

Santiago, also 45, from the Philippines, died on Wednesday at the South Col. He was reportedly exhausted when he reached the fourth high camp and passed away while resting in his tent.

Both Santiago and Ghosh were part of an international expedition organized by Bhandari. During this climbing season, Nepal has issued 459 permits for expeditions on Everest, and nearly 100 climbers and their guides have reached the summit this week.

Mountain climbing, trekking, and tourism serve as critical sources of income and employment in Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world.

Over the past century, at least 345 individuals have lost their lives on Everest since expeditions began, according to data from the Himalayas database and hiking officials.