For most mountaineers, standing on the summit of Mount Everest is the culmination of years of training, sacrifice, and obsession. But on the world’s tallest mountain, reaching the top is only half the journey. This week, Everest once again reminded climbers why the descent remains its deadliest chapter.
Two Indian climbers, Arun Kumar Tiwari and Sandeep Are, died while descending from Mount Everest after successfully summiting during one of the busiest climbing windows of the 2026 season. Their deaths come amid record-breaking traffic on the mountain, renewed conversations around overcrowding, and growing concern over the risks of high-altitude exhaustion in the so-called “death zone” above 8,000 metres.
According to Nepal’s Department of Tourism and expedition reports, both climbers reached the summit on May 21 before developing serious health complications during their return journey. Rescue attempts by Sherpa teams continued for hours in punishing conditions, but neither climber survived.
Tiwari, 53, reportedly died near the Hillary Step, the steep rock face just below Everest’s summit ridge that has long been considered one of the mountain’s most technically demanding sections. He had summited earlier that evening and was descending with experienced Sherpa guides when severe exhaustion set in. Reports suggest multiple rescue workers attempted to bring him down toward lower camps, but the terrain, altitude, and rapidly deteriorating physical condition made recovery impossible.
Are, 46, died closer to Camp II after suffering a series of altitude-related complications during his descent. Reports from expedition teams indicate he developed snow blindness after exposure at high altitude and later showed symptoms associated with high-altitude cerebral edema, a dangerous condition caused by swelling in the brain due to low oxygen levels. Sherpa rescuers spent nearly two days assisting him down the mountain before he succumbed near Camp II.
Record Summit Rush
The deaths unfolded during one of Everest’s most crowded summit pushes in recent years. Nepal issued a record 493 climbing permits for Everest this spring, the highest number since records began following the mountain’s first successful ascent in 1953. On May 22 alone, around 274 climbers reportedly reached the summit from the Nepal side, setting a new single-day record.
This year’s climbing season had already experienced delays after route preparation work through the Khumbu Icefall was slowed earlier in May. Once rope-fixing teams opened the summit route on May 13, a narrow weather window triggered a massive surge of climbers attempting the ascent simultaneously.
The result was familiar to anyone following Everest in recent years: long queues near bottleneck sections, slower descents, and climbers spending extended hours in the death zone, where oxygen levels are critically low and the human body begins to deteriorate rapidly. Even experienced climbers can face impaired judgement, confusion, exhaustion, and life-threatening medical emergencies within hours.
The 2026 season has now recorded at least five fatalities on Everest, including three Nepali high-altitude workers and guides who died earlier in May. Lakpa Dende Sherpa died while trekking to Base Camp, while Bijaya Ghimire Bishwakarma and Phura Gyaljen Sherpa lost their lives during climbing operations higher on the mountain.
At the same time, the season has also been marked by headline-making achievements. Several Indian climbers successfully summited Everest this month, including 16-year-old Nisha Sasikumar from Tamil Nadu, who became one of the youngest women to summit from the south side route. The Border Security Force’s all-women mountaineering team also completed a successful expedition.
Mountain And Mortality
The deaths of Tiwari and Are have once again drawn attention to the increasingly commercial nature of Everest expeditions and the difficult balance Nepal faces between tourism revenue and climber safety. Everest remains one of the country’s most lucrative adventure tourism industries, attracting hundreds of climbers each year despite mounting criticism around overcrowding and inadequate regulation.
For many climbers, the challenge today is no longer only the mountain itself, but also navigating traffic jams at extreme altitude, unpredictable weather shifts, and physical depletion after summit pushes that can stretch beyond 20 hours.
The descent, mountaineers often say, is where Everest extracts its highest price. Climbers return physically drained, oxygen supplies begin running low, weather conditions can shift rapidly, and decision-making becomes increasingly difficult. Most fatalities on Everest occur not during the ascent, but on the way down.
Tiwari and Are were both described by those familiar with their expeditions as committed, well-prepared climbers with prior high-altitude experience. Yet Everest has long shown that preparation alone cannot fully eliminate risk. As another crowded season continues on the mountain, their deaths stand as a reminder that even in years of favourable weather and record summits, Everest remains profoundly unforgiving.
Things To Know Before An Everest Trek
Acclimatisation is everything. Gaining altitude too quickly can lead to serious health risks, including Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Most itineraries include rest days for a reason.
Weather in the Himalayas changes rapidly. Bright sunshine can turn into snow and high winds within hours, so layered clothing and waterproof gear are essential.
Hydration becomes more important at altitude. Trekkers are advised to drink plenty of water even when they do not feel thirsty.
Good trekking boots can make or break the journey. Footwear should be waterproof, well broken-in, and suitable for rocky and icy terrain.
UV exposure is intense at high altitude. Sunglasses with UV protection and high-SPF sunscreen are necessary, even on cloudy days.
Fitness helps, but pacing matters more. Slow, steady walking is often safer and more effective than trying to move quickly.
Connectivity is limited in many sections of the trek. Expect patchy Wi-Fi, charging restrictions, and minimal mobile networks in remote areas.
Basic medical supplies are worth carrying, including medicines for altitude sickness, headaches, cold symptoms, and blisters.
Respect local culture and mountain etiquette. Many trekking routes pass through Sherpa villages, monasteries, and sacred sites.
The descent is often harder than expected. Fatigue, changing weather, and overconfidence can make the return journey equally demanding.
(With inputs from various sources)
FAQs
1. Who were the two Indian climbers who died on Everest?
Arun Kumar Tiwari and Sandeep Are were Indian climbers who died while descending Mount Everest after successfully summiting.
2. When did the climbers die?
Both climbers died during their descent between May 21 and May 22, 2026, during Everest’s spring climbing season.
3. What caused their deaths?
Reports suggest both climbers suffered severe exhaustion and altitude-related health complications during the descent.
4. Why is descending Everest considered dangerous?
The descent is physically exhausting, and climbers face low oxygen, extreme weather, fatigue, and impaired judgement in the death zone.
5. How crowded was Everest this season?
Nepal issued a record 493 climbing permits in 2026, with around 274 climbers summiting in a single day.
