KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) – The climbing season on Mount Everest is marked by tragedy as two climbers have lost their lives during recent expeditions. Subrata Ghosh, an Indian climber, passed away on Thursday just below the summit, which stands at an impressive height of 8,849 meters (29,032 feet). His death occurred while he was descending from the peak after attempting to reach the top.
In a related incident, Philipp Santiago, a 45-year-old climber from the Philippines, died on Wednesday while en route to the summit. Santiago had successfully reached Camp 4, the highest camp on Everest, and was in the process of preparing for his final ascent. Both fatalities highlight the inherent risks associated with climbing the world's highest mountain, particularly during the peak climbing season.
Bodha Raj Bhandari, a representative of Snowy Horizon Trek and Expedition, a Nepal-based company that organized and equipped the climbing expeditions, stated that the bodies of Ghosh and Santiago remain on the mountain. The decision regarding the retrieval of the bodies has yet to be made, primarily due to the significant logistical challenges and costs involved in recovering bodies from the treacherous and icy slopes of Everest.
The annual spring climbing season, which commenced in March, is a time when hundreds of climbers attempt to reach the summit of Everest, with the season typically concluding at the end of May. Climbers often find May to be the most favorable month for such ascents, as it presents a narrow window of improved weather conditions suitable for summit attempts. However, this window is fleeting, providing climbers only limited opportunities to ascend safely.
Since the first successful ascent of Mount Everest in 1953 by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepali Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, the mountain has become a sought-after challenge for climbers from around the globe. To date, more than 300 climbers have tragically lost their lives attempting to conquer this iconic peak, illustrating the extreme dangers and challenges that accompany high-altitude climbing.
Efforts to retrieve the bodies of deceased climbers on Everest are complicated by the mountain's harsh environment, requiring teams of climbers and substantial resources to navigate the icy terrain. This year’s incidents serve as a sobering reminder of the risks involved in mountaineering, particularly on one of the world’s most renowned yet perilous summits.
