KATHMANDU, MAY 3 A body discovered along the main climbing route to Mount Everest has been recovered and transported to Kathmandu for identification, the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) announced on Friday. The body was found by Icefall Doctors during routine route management operations on the trail between Everest Base Camp and Camp I, across the Khumbu Icefall. It was partially buried under ice and positioned directly on the primary climbing path, raising both safety and environmental concerns. The Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation formally requested NMA to initiate recovery operations. NMA coordinated with the Nepal Tourism Board and technical experts at Base Camp, including the Icefall Doctors responsible for route fixing. With support from the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), a team of experienced climbing Sherpas recovered the body on April 29, 2026, and transported it to Everest Base Camp. A helicopter evacuation to Lukla was attempted on April 30 but was aborted due to adverse weather. A second attempt on May 1 succeeded, and the body was handed over to Lukla police authorities for post-mortem examination, which was completed within hours. On the morning of May 2, the body was transported to Kathmandu and handed over to Teaching Hospital for further investigation and identification. Efforts to establish the identity of the deceased, including nationality and name, are ongoing. Initial identification attempts at Base Camp involving SPCC Icefall Doctors and fellow climbers were unsuccessful. NMA said it will cross-reference records of climbers who died on Everest in previous seasons. Forensic procedures, including DNA testing, are expected to confirm the identity and enable the family to claim the body and conduct last rites. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation granted formal consent for the recovery operation, carried out in coordination with the Nepal Tourism Board and other stakeholders. NMA President Phur Gelje Sherpa extended gratitude to the Department of Tourism, Nepal Tourism Board, and SPCC for their support in the operation.