An Indian and a Romanian climber lost their lives on Nepal’s Mount Lhotse, the world’s fourth-highest peak, officials confirmed on Monday. Their deaths bring the 2025 Himalayan climbing season’s toll in Nepal to at least eight.
Picture/ RP Adventures
Indian climber collapses during descent
Rakesh Kumar, 39, from India, died on Sunday while descending from Lhotse’s 8,516-metre (27,940-foot) summit. He had reached the mountain’s fourth camp, located at around 8,000 metres (26,246 feet), when tragedy struck, as per Reuters reports.
“He was coming down from the 8,000m fourth camp when he suddenly collapsed,” said Mohan Lamsal of Makalu Adventure, the Nepali company that managed Kumar’s expedition. “Efforts to revive him by his Sherpa guide failed.”
ALSO READ: New rules at Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve
Romanian climber dies during ascent
Romanian climber Barna Zsolt Vago, 48, also died on Sunday, though during his ascent toward the summit of Lhotse. Details about the circumstances of his death remain limited.
“He died while going up to the Lhotse peak,” said Rajan Bhattarai of Himalayan Guides, the agency overseeing Vago’s climb.
A dangerous season in the Himalayas
The climbing window between March and May is considered the prime season for summiting Himalayan peaks in Nepal. However, it also comes with risks. This season alone has seen at least eight fatalities across the region, including two on Mount Everest.
The season is expected to close later this month.
Follow us on social media for more travel news, inspiration, and guides. You can also tag us to be featured.
TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
ALSO READ: South Africa’s hidden valleys you can only reach the slow way
