Climbers from India, Philippines die while scaling Everest

In a tragic start to the Mount Everest climbing season, an Indian climber and a mountaineer from the Philippines have become the first fatalities this March-May period. 

Subrata Ghosh, a 45-year-old climber from India, died on Thursday below the notorious Hillary Step while descending after reaching the summit at 8,849 metres (29,032 feet). 

"He refused to descend from below the Hillary Step," said Bodhraj Bhandari of Nepal's Snowy Horizon Treks and Expedition organising company.

The Hillary Step, situated within the perilous 'death zone' above 8,000 metres, presents extreme challenges due to severely low oxygen levels, making survival increasingly difficult.

"Efforts are underway to bring his body down to the base camp. The cause of his death will be known only after post-mortem," Bhandari said.

Philipp II Santiago, 45, from the Philippines, died late on Wednesday at the South Col while he was on his way up, said Himal Gautam, a tourism department official.

Santiago was tired when he reached the fourth high camp and died while resting in his tent, Gautam added.

Santiago and Ghose were both members of an international expedition organised by Bhandari.

Nepal has issued 459 permits to climb Everest during the current season which ends in May. Nearly 100 climbers and their guides have already reached the summit this week.

Mountain climbing, trekking and tourism are a source of income and employment for Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world.

At least 345 people have died on Everest in more than 100 years since summiting expeditions were known to have started, according to the Himalayan database and hiking officials.