Indian climber dies on Everest during descent
Subrata Ghosh of West Bengal dies just below Hillary Step, a day after a Filipino climber’s death at Camp IV, marking a deadly start to the 2025 spring season.
The 2025 spring climbing season on Mount Everest has claimed its second life, as an Indian mountaineer died during his descent from the summit, officials confirmed on Friday.
Subrata Ghosh, a climber from West Bengal, India, lost his life just below the Hillary Step on Thursday. The Hillary Step, a steep and iconic rock face near Everest’s 8,848.86-meter summit, is one of the final technical challenges for climbers.
The 45-year-old was part of the Mountaineering Association of Krishnanagar–Snowy Everest Expedition 2025. He had successfully reached the summit but experienced a rapid deterioration in his condition during the descent. His guide, working with the Kathmandu-based outfitter Snowy Horizon Treks and Expedition, returned to Camp IV late Thursday and reported Ghosh’s death on Friday morning.
Efforts are currently underway to recover Ghosh’s body and bring it back to base camp, the company stated.
Ghosh’s death follows that of another climber, Philipp II Santiago from the Philippines, who died at Camp IV on Wednesday while preparing for his summit push. Santiago, 45, had been among the last to reach Camp IV—located around 8,000 meters in the deadly "death zone"—and died within minutes of arrival, reportedly from exhaustion, according to Bodhraj Bhandari, managing director of Snowy Horizon Treks and Expedition.
Both climbers were part of the same expedition team, attempting Everest during the brief but intense spring climbing season. The season, which runs from April to early June, typically offers the most favorable weather conditions for high-altitude ascents.
Nepal’s Department of Tourism has issued climbing permits to 456 foreign climbers this season, including 83 from India, 83 from the United States, and 49 from China. Hundreds of Sherpa guides support these climbers each year.
So far this season, Nepali authorities have confirmed that at least 100 climbers, including their guides, have successfully reached the summit.
