In a heartbreaking turn of events, 44-year-old Subrata Ghosh, a veteran mountaineer and school teacher from West Bengal, passed away just hours after successfully summiting Mount Everest. Ghosh, who hailed from Ranaghat in Nadia district, died while descending from the Hillary Step — a perilous section near the summit of the world’s highest mountain.
Ghosh had reached the Everest summit around 2 pm on Thursday with his Sherpa guide. However, while descending, he began showing signs of extreme exhaustion and reportedly refused to move from the Hillary Step, located at an altitude of 8,790 metres. The guide, who was also reportedly unwell, returned alone to Camp IV, leaving Ghosh behind.
“We got the news from Nepal that my elder brother has died near the Hillary Step. We don’t yet know the exact details. He had been absolutely fine,” Ghosh’s younger brother, Surajit Ghosh, told PTI. “We expect to hear more from his Sherpa when he recovers.”
This was Ghosh’s first expedition to Mount Everest, but not his first brush with extreme altitudes. A seasoned climber, he had previously scaled at least 13 peaks around the globe. “He made us proud by conquering Everest, but we never thought this joy would turn into grief,” Surajit added.
Ghosh was accompanied on the expedition by his cousin, Sumitra Debnath, who remained at the base camp. His grieving family, including his elderly parents, are now awaiting the return of his body.
Renowned Indian mountaineer and Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awardee Debasish Biswas confirmed the difficulties in retrieving Ghosh’s remains due to adverse weather conditions. “The weather has been bad since Thursday. It may take several days to bring down the body. Once recovered, a post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the cause of death,” Biswas said.
Ghosh’s death adds to the grim list of casualties on Mount Everest, where high-altitude conditions, treacherous terrain, and unpredictable weather pose constant threats to climbers. Yet for those like Ghosh, who dream of standing on the roof of the world, the risks are often outweighed by the passion to summit.
As the mountaineering community mourns the loss of one of its own, tributes pour in for Subrata Ghosh — a man whose final adventure ended in both glory and tragedy.
Sources By Agencies
