Nepali Mountain Guide Dies During Everest Acclimatisation as Climbing Season Intensifies

Kathmandu, May 2026 : A Nepali mountain guide died during an acclimatisation expedition in the Mount Qomolangma region, highlighting once again the extreme dangers associated with climbing the world’s highest peak during the ongoing spring mountaineering season.

According to Nepal’s Department of Tourism, the deceased guide was identified as 35-year-old Bijay Ghimire, an experienced climber who had successfully summited the 8,848.86-metre Mount Everest three times previously — in 2016, 2019 and 2023.

Government officials confirmed that Ghimire died on Sunday due to altitude sickness while carrying out his duties as a mountain guide.

“He died while performing his responsibility as a mountain guide,” Himal Gautam, information officer at Nepal’s Department of Tourism, said in an official statement issued on Monday evening.

The tragedy comes amid one of the busiest Everest climbing seasons in recent years. Nepal has issued a record 492 climbing permits for Mount Everest during the current spring season, drawing mountaineers from around the world despite rising costs and ongoing geopolitical tensions affecting regional travel.

The latest incident has once again drawn attention to the physical risks faced not only by climbers but also by Sherpa guides and support staff who play a crucial role in high-altitude expeditions.

Earlier Everest accident injured two climbers

The fatality follows another serious incident reported earlier this month in the Everest region.

On May 5, two climbers — an Indian mountaineer and a Nepali Sherpa guide — sustained injuries after a serac collapse struck them along the dangerous Khumbu Icefall route.

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

According to Nepal’s tourism authorities, the accident occurred at approximately 5:45 a.m. when a massive chunk of glacial ice broke loose and crashed onto the main climbing route used by expedition teams moving between Everest Base Camp and Camp I during acclimatisation exercises.

A serac is a large and unstable block of glacier ice formed through intersecting crevasses and shifting ice structures. Such formations are especially common in steep glacier sections and are known to collapse without warning.

At the time of the accident, climbers and Sherpa guides from several expedition companies were ascending toward Camp I after spending time at Camp II as part of the acclimatisation process.

Khumbu Icefall remains one of Everest’s deadliest sections

The Khumbu Icefall continues to be regarded as one of the most dangerous stretches of the Everest climbing route due to constant ice movement, deep crevasses, and unpredictable serac collapses.

Rescue teams from Pioneer Adventure Pvt. Ltd. and Summit Force Expedition immediately responded to the accident and alerted officials stationed at Everest Base Camp.

Soon afterward, Seven Summit Trek Pvt. Ltd. coordinated an emergency helicopter evacuation. A rescue helicopter arriving from Lukla airlifted the injured climbers to Kathmandu for medical treatment around 6:30 a.m.

Everest season continues despite challenges

Despite the risks associated with Everest expeditions, Nepal has continued to witness a strong influx of climbers this season. The government recently increased the Everest climbing royalty fee from 11,000 US dollars to 15,000 US dollars per climber, yet interest in scaling the peak has remained high.

Mountaineering activities have also continued despite flight disruptions linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia involving the United States and Iran.

Officials say safety monitoring and rescue preparedness remain a priority as hundreds of climbers continue acclimatisation and summit attempts in the Everest region during the peak climbing window.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)