Kathmandu: Hiking officials said Friday that Indian climbers and another climber in the Philippines became the current climbing season from March to May, becoming the earliest climber to die on Mount Everest to be killed on Mount Everest.
Subrata Ghosh, 45, from India, died Thursday below the Hillary step while returning after reaching a peak of 8,849 meters (29,032 feet).
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“He refused to descend from Hillary’s steps,” said Bodhraj Bhandari of Nepal’s snow trek and expedition group.
No other details are available.
The Hillary Step is located in the “Death Zone”, an area between the south and the summit of the hill, which is 8,000 meters (26,250 feet) high, with natural oxygen levels not enough to survive.
“Working to lower his body to base camp. The cause of his death will only be known after Mortum,” Bandari said.
Tourism Department official Himal Gautam said Philipp II Santiago, 45, died late Wednesday in South Col, South Col in the south.
Gautam added that Santiago died when he arrived at the fourth highland camp and rested in the tent.
Santiago and Goss are both members of an international expedition organized by Bhandari.
Nepal has issued 459 permits for climbing Mount Everest this season, ending in May. Nearly 100 climbers and their guides have arrived at the summit this week.
Mountaineering, hiking and tourism are the sources of income and employment in Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world.
Himalayan database and hiking officials say at least 345 people have died on Mount Everest since the start of the summit expedition.
