‘Everest Man’ Sounds Alarm on Crowded Peaks After Two Indian Climbers Die

Two Indian mountaineers have died on Mount Everest, adding to a grim toll during what’s shaping up to be one of the busiest climbing seasons on record. The deaths have reignited warnings about overcrowding and inexperience on the world’s highest summit.

Sandeep Are and Arun Kumar Tiwari both reached the peak on separate days last week but fell ill during their descent, according to Nivesh Karki of Pioneer Adventures. “We are working out how to retrieve the bodies,” he said.

At least five climbers have died this season on Everest, including three Nepalis. Two more fatalities occurred on nearby Mount Makalu.

Kami Rita Sherpa, who just scaled Everest for a record 32nd time, returned to Kathmandu on Friday with a stark message. He described the mountain as “a bit crowded” and urged the government to tighten regulations. “They should let in only climbers of quality – there should be a limit,” he said.

Photos from the slopes show long queues of climbers clipped to fixed ropes in the thin, oxygen-starved air above 8,000 meters. On Thursday, a preliminary count of 275 people summited from the Nepali side in a single day – a record for this year. The final tally is still being verified.

Nepal has issued a record 492 Everest permits to foreigners this season, with hundreds of tents dotting the base camp. Chinese authorities closed the northern route in Tibet, funneling all traffic through Nepal.

Among those who made it safely was British guide Kenton Cool, who reached the top for the 20th time – extending his own record for most ascents by a non-Nepali.

With more than 600 people having summited since April, critics say the government is prioritizing revenue over safety. The climbing window is short and unpredictable, and when bad weather hits, the crowds become a deadly bottleneck.