Two Indian climbers have died while descending towards Everest base camp after successfully standing atop Mount Everest in Nepal, said a government official.
Khim Lal Gautam, coordinator of the Everest Base Camp field office established by the Department of Tourism, said two climbers from Pioneer Adventures, who had permits for the Everest ascent, collapsed on their way back to base.
“Two Indian climbers died; one at camp II and another one at Hillary Step,” he said from the Everest Base camp.
The deceased have been identified as Arun Kumar Tiwari and Sandip Are, said Nivesh Karki, managing director of Pioneer Adventures.
Arun Tiwari was descending to the lower camps after reaching the Everest summit on Wednesday at around 5:15 pm (1100 GMT), but he collapsed at the Hillary during the descent to the lower camp.
Sudip Are had reached a lower camp after accomplishing his lifelong dream of reaching the world’s highest point. “He was getting weaker and died at camp II while we were rescuing Sudip,” said Karki.
