Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, has claimed its first casualties of the 2025 spring climbing season with the tragic deaths of two climbers — one from India and the other from the Philippines.

The incidents occurred amid a rush to summit the 8,849 metre mountain, during the narrow weather window that typically runs from March to May. The season had, until now, progressed without major incidents, with nearly 100 climbers and Sherpas reaching the summit over the past week.

Indian Climber Subrata Ghosh Dies After Refusing to Descend

Subrata Ghosh, a 45-year-old Indian national, died while descending Mount Everest on Thursday. According to expedition organiser Bodhraj Bhandari from Nepal-based Snowy Horizon Treks and Expedition, Ghosh refused to descend from just below the Hillary Step, a notorious feature near the summit.

The Hillary Step, located between the South Summit and the main summit, lies in the death zone, a perilous altitude above 8,000 metres, where oxygen levels are too low to sustain human life for extended periods. Climbers must navigate this section with extreme caution, and delays can prove fatal.

Bhandari told reporters that Ghosh had reached the top but chose not to descend when advised. His body remains on the mountain and efforts are ongoing to recover it and bring it down to base camp.

The cause of death has not yet been officially determined and will be confirmed after a post mortem examination. However, the high altitude, extreme fatigue, and potential altitude-related complications are likely contributing factors.

Filipino Climber Dies at South Col While Ascending

In a separate tragedy, Philipp II Santiago, also 45, from the Philippines, died on Wednesday night while ascending the mountain from the South Col, the final major camp before the summit push.

According to Himal Gautam, a senior official in Nepal’s tourism department, Santiago was exhausted after reaching the fourth high camp and died while resting in his tent. The South Col sits at around 8,000 metres, also within the death zone, where physical exertion becomes extremely hazardous due to lack of oxygen.

Both climbers were part of the same international expedition organised by Bhandari’s company.

Current Status of the 2025 Everest Season

Nepal’s Department of Tourism has issued 459 permits for foreign climbers to attempt the Everest summit during the 2025 spring season. With each foreign climber typically accompanied by at least one Sherpa guide, the total number of people attempting the climb this season will exceed 900.

So far, the weather conditions have been mostly favourable, allowing more than 100 climbers and guides to reach the top. But these recent deaths serve as a stark reminder of the extreme dangers associated with high-altitude mountaineering.

Everest’s Deadly History

Mount Everest has now recorded at least 345 deaths over the last century, according to records maintained by the Himalayan Database and corroborated by local hiking and mountaineering authorities.

The most common causes of death on Everest include:

• High altitude cerebral or pulmonary edema

• Frostbite and hypothermia

• Falls and avalanches

• Exhaustion or getting lost during descent

The death zone, which begins around 8,000 metres above sea level, is particularly notorious for claiming lives. It is an area where even experienced climbers become susceptible to hallucinations, loss of coordination, poor decision-making, and respiratory failure.

Increasing Risk with Growing Numbers

In recent years, concerns have grown about the number of people attempting to summit Everest during the short spring season. Congestion at critical points, including the Hillary Step and South Col, has led to delays that can prove fatal.

The Nepali government has tried to regulate climbing more stringently by requiring permits, mandatory guides, and verification of prior mountaineering experience. Despite this, crowding remains a concern, especially when several teams summit on the same day.

Photos from previous years have shown long queues at high-risk locations, resulting in climbers spending too long in the death zone. In 2019, for example, at least 11 climbers died, many due to overcrowding and slow progress above the South Col.

International Response and Preparation

Climbers typically undergo months of physical training, high-altitude acclimatisation, and careful logistical planning before attempting Everest. Still, once above Camp IV, the situation can deteriorate rapidly due to sudden weather changes, human error, or equipment failure.

Both India and the Philippines are now coordinating with Nepali authorities regarding the recovery of the bodies and offering support to the climbers' families.

Tributes and condolences are pouring in on social media and from mountaineering communities. Subrata Ghosh is being remembered as a dedicated adventurer, while Philipp Santiago is hailed as a passionate high-altitude athlete who died doing what he loved.

Conclusion

The deaths of Subrata Ghosh and Philipp Santiago on Everest highlight the ever-present risks associated with extreme altitude climbing. Despite technological advances, better gear, and more experienced guides, the mountain remains one of the most dangerous places on Earth.

As the 2025 spring climbing season continues, authorities and expedition operators will be under pressure to prioritise safety, monitor health conditions, and make faster decisions when climbers show signs of distress or exhaustion.

This tragedy serves as a stark reminder that summiting Everest is optional, but returning is mandatory — a mantra often repeated in mountaineering circles but too often ignored under the pressure of conquering the world's highest peak.

The Upcoming IPOs in this week and coming weeks are Victory Electric Vehicles International, Borana Weaves, Dar Credit and Capital,Belrise Industries, Wagons Learning.

The Current active IPO are Accretion Pharmaceuticals.

Start your Stock Market Journey and Apply in IPO by Opening Free Demat Account in Choice Broking FinX.

Join our Trading with CA Abhay Telegram Channel for regular Stock Market Trading and Investment Calls by CA Abhay Varn - SEBI Registered Research Analyst