The Telugu Climber Tragedy: Why Everest Remains Deadliest After the Summit
HYDERABAD: The deaths of Hyderabad-based tech professional Arun Kumar Tiwari and Andhra Pradesh climber Sandeep Are after summit pushes on Mount Everest have renewed scrutiny of the mountain’s commercial climbing industry. Their deaths highlight the risks that persist even after climbers reach the top.
The incidents have drawn attention to a system built around permits, fixed ropes, bottled oxygen, Sherpa support and narrow weather windows. Among climbers in Hyderabad, the debate has shifted from whether Everest has changed to whether the modern expedition model demands enough preparation from those attempting the mountain.
Experienced Climbers Warn About Growing Inexperience
“Everest has become far too crowded in recent years, and concerns over its over-commercialisation have existed for more than a decade now,” Hyderabad mountaineer Vishwanath Kartikey Padakanti said.
He said commercial expeditions have helped younger climbers access opportunities that were once difficult to reach. However, they have also encouraged many inexperienced climbers to attempt Everest.
“That overcrowding can increase risks and contribute to tragedies like these, even for highly experienced climbers like Tiwari,” he added.
Tiwari died near the Hillary Step at an altitude of about 8,790 metres. He suffered severe weakness and vomited blood before collapsing, according to reports. Recovering bodies at such heights remains extremely dangerous and often costs several lakh rupees.
His death reflects a long-established pattern on Everest. Studies based on Himalayan Database records show that more than half of deaths above 8,000 metres occur during descent. Climbers face extreme exhaustion, declining oxygen supplies and shrinking margins for survival during the return journey.
Short Summit Window Increased Crowding
Nepal expanded adventure tourism after the 1990s, and Everest gradually became one of the country’s most valuable tourism assets. Foreign climbers paid a permit fee of $11,000 for years before Nepal raised it to $15,000. The mountain generated about ₹107 crore in government revenue during the 2026 climbing season.
Critics have repeatedly questioned Nepal’s decision to issue large numbers of permits despite concerns about congestion, environmental damage and climber safety.
However, expedition leaders argue that permit numbers alone do not explain the situation.
Bharath Thammineni, founder of Hyderabad-based Boots & Crampons and leader of the expedition team that included Tiwari, said a shortened summit window created the biggest challenge this season.
“A giant unstable serac delayed route preparation through the Khumbu Icefall. That delay cut into the climbing period and compressed summit attempts,” he said.
According to Thammineni, permit numbers remained broadly similar to recent seasons. Nepal issued around 496 permits this year, compared with roughly 470 in 2025 and around 460 in earlier years.
China’s decision not to open the Tibet route to foreign climbers also pushed more climbers to the Nepal side of Everest.
Record Summit Traffic Raises Concerns
Reports indicate that around 274 climbers reached the summit from the Nepal side on a single day in May. The figure exceeded those associated with the heavily criticised 2019 season.
That year drew global attention after Nepali climber Nirmal Purja shared a photograph showing a long queue of climbers near the summit ridge. Eleven people died during that season.
Mountaineers Question Changing Motivations
Kunal Sanklecha, founder of The Infinite Playground and a climber with experience on several Himalayan peaks above 7,000 metres, said the growing number of inexperienced climbers is changing the culture of mountaineering.
“The number of inexperienced climbers coming to Everest is increasing every year. Many people are climbing for the wrong reasons, such as instant social-media fame, money or perks. The core of mountaineering is being lost in many ways,” he said.
Sanklecha argued that climbers on Everest increasingly depend on organised logistics rather than independent decision-making.
“On Everest, you are pretty much a high-altitude tourist. Of course, some decisions remain in your control. But when it comes to logistics, you are not the decision-maker,” he said.
Commercial expeditions rely on fixed ropes, oxygen systems, weather forecasts, stocked camps and extensive Sherpa support. These developments have improved survival rates and made Everest more accessible. At the same time, they have transformed the nature of the climb.
The Summit Is Only Half the Journey
Everest is safer in several respects than it was two decades ago. More climbers reach the summit, and rescue operations save more lives. Yet the mountain continues to show that the greatest challenge often begins after climbers reach the top.
Tiwari’s family decided to leave his body on the mountain. Even so, climbers continue to attempt Everest each season, fully aware that reaching the summit does not guarantee a safe return.
