KATHMANDU, MAY 22
Two Indian climbers have died while descending from the summit of Mount Everest, bringing the season's death toll on the world's highest peak to five.
According to Rishi Bhandari, Secretary General of the Expedition Operators Association of Nepal (EOAN), the deceased have been identified as Arun Kumar Tiwari and Sandeep Are. Both had summited Everest on May 21 and fell ill during their descent.
Tiwari died near the Hillary Step, just below the summit, while being assisted by four Sherpa climbers during the descent, Nivesh Karki, Director at Pioneer Adventures said.
Are was rescued from the South Summit after suffering snow blindness immediately upon reaching the top, but breathed his last at Camp II after being brought there by five Sherpa rescuers.
Efforts are underway to bring Are's body to Kathmandu, Karki said.
A third Indian climber is currently being rescued from the South Col, he added.
The two deaths bring the season's Everest fatalities to five. Three Nepali climbers had died earlier: Phura Gyaljen Sherpa, 21, of Thame, Solukhumbu, fell into a crevasse near Camp III and died on the spot; Bijay Ghimire Bishwakarma of Solu Dudhkunda, the first Dalit to summit Everest, died of suspected cardiac arrest in the Khumbu Icefall on May 10; and Lakpa Dendi Sherpa, 52, of Gudel, Solukhumbu, died on May 4 after falling while hiking from Gorak Shep.