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Nepali Guide Dies on Everest, Second Incident This Season

A 35-year-old Nepali mountain guide, Bijay Ghimire, died of altitude sickness while acclimatizing on Mount Everest. This is the second incident in the region this month, following a serac collapse that injured an Indian climber and a Sherpa guide. The injured climbers, Nimish Kumar Singh and Pembha Tenduk Sherpa, were airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment. Nepal has issued a record 492 climbing permits for the spring season despite increased fees and regional flight disruptions.

Key Points: Nepali Guide Dies on Everest | Second Incident

  • Nepali guide Bijay Ghimire dies of altitude sickness on Everest
  • He was a 35-year-old who had summited the peak three times
  • Two climbers were injured earlier this month in a serac collapse on the Khumbu Icefall
  • Nepal issued a record 492 climbing permits this spring season
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Nepali mountain guide dies in Mt. Qomolangma region

A 35-year-old Nepali guide dies of altitude sickness on Mt. Everest. This follows a serac collapse that injured two climbers earlier this month.

"He died while performing his responsibility as a mountain guide. - Himal Gautam, Department of Tourism"

Kathmandu, May 12

A Nepali mountain guide passed away in the course of acclimatisation in the Mount Qomolangma region, said a government official.

He died on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency.

Bijay Ghimire, 35, who had successfully been to the 8,848.86-meter peak three times in 2016, 2019 and 2023, died of altitude sickness. "He died while performing his responsibility as a mountain guide," said Himal Gautam, information officer at the Department of Tourism, in a statement on Monday evening.

The department has issued a record 492 permits to climbers to conquer the peak this spring season.

Earlier on May 5, two climbers -- an Indian mountaineer and a Sherpa guide -- were injured after a serac collapse along the Khumbu Icefall route on Mt. Everest hit them, Nepal's Department of Tourism said.

The injured have been identified as Nimish Kumar Singh, 40, from India, and Pembha Tenduk Sherpa, 44, a mountain guide from Nepal.

According to the department, the incident occurred at around 5:45 a.m. on Tuesday when a serac collapse caused falling ice to reach the main climbing route, striking members of the expedition team.

A serac is a large, unstable block or pinnacle of glacial ice, often formed by intersecting crevasses on a glacier's surface or on steep icefalls.

At the time of the incident, permit-holding climbers and Sherpa guides from multiple expedition agencies were heading toward Camp I from Camp II via the Khumbu Icefall as part of the acclimatisation process. They had earlier reached Camp II after ascending from Everest Base Camp.

The Khumbu Icefall, one of the most hazardous sections of the Everest climbing route, is known for frequent ice shifts and serac collapses, particularly during the early climbing season.

Immediately after the incident, a team of Sherpa guides from Pioneer Adventure Pvt. Ltd. and Summit Force Expedition carried out a prompt rescue and informed officials stationed at Everest Base Camp.

From the base camp, a team from Seven Summit Trek Pvt. Ltd. quickly coordinated a helicopter evacuation. At around 6:30 a.m., a helicopter arrived at the incident site from Lukla airport near Mt. Everest and airlifted the injured to Kathmandu for treatment.

Nepal has attracted a large number of mountaineers this spring season, particularly those attempting to climb Mt. Everest, despite the government raising the royalty fee for climbers to $15,000 from $11,000 per person and flight disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia between the United States and Iran.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
This is so tragic. Three successful summits and then to lose his life while helping others... shows how unpredictable and dangerous the mountain can be. Hope the Indian climber and the Sherpa guide recover well from the ice collapse incident too.
K
Kavya N
Om Shanti 🙏 It's a harsh reality - even with all the modern equipment and experienced guides, nature always has the final say. But 492 permits this season! That seems like too many people on that mountain. We're treating Everest like a tourist attraction when it's a sacred and dangerous place.
S
Suresh O
My heart goes out to Bijay's family and the other injured climbers. These guides work so hard for so little recognition. The government keeps increasing fees but does very little to ensure safety on the mountain. Khumbu Icefall is a killer every season. We need better monitoring and rescue systems.
J
James A
Such a sad loss. The Sherpa community carries so much risk for the global mountaineering industry. I hope Nepal's tourism department takes this as a wake-up call to improve safety protocols, especially with record numbers of climbers. Thoughts from Canada to the families affected. 🙏
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Raghav A
Altitude sickness is no joke even for experienced climbers. I've trekked to Everest Base Camp and could barely breathe at 5000 meters. These guides go to the top multiple times - it takes an incredible toll on their bodies. I hope the injured Indian mountaineer, Nimish Kumar Singh, recovers fully. We need to respect the mountain more.
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