Kathmandu, May 22
Two Indian mountaineers died while descending from Mount Everest after successfully reaching the summit, according to expedition officials in Nepal. The climbers reportedly became severely ill and exhausted during the return journey, and despite rescue efforts by Sherpa guides, they could not be saved.
The deceased climbers were identified as Arun Kumar Tiwari and Sandeep Are. Officials associated with the Everest expedition said both men faced serious health complications while returning from the world’s highest peak.
According to expedition organizers, Tiwari died near the Hillary Step, just below the summit, after falling ill during his descent on Thursday evening. He was being assisted by Sherpa climbers at the time.
He had reportedly reached the summit a day earlier but became unwell while descending. Sherpa guides rescued him from the South Summit area and brought him down to Camp II, where he later died early Friday.
Officials from the Expedition Operators Association of Nepal said the guides made extensive efforts to save both climbers under difficult, high-altitude conditions.
Authorities are now working to bring the bodies back to Kathmandu.
The deaths have pushed the Everest season toll to five this year. Earlier in the climbing season, three Nepali climbers had also lost their lives on the mountain.
This week also saw a record number of summit attempts on Everest. On Wednesday, 274 climbers successfully reached the 8,848.86-meter peak in a single day, marking the highest number of ascents recorded in one day.
The latest deaths have once again highlighted the extreme risks of high-altitude climbing on Mount Everest, particularly during the dangerous descent phase, when exhaustion and weather conditions often become critical challenges for climbers.
