Mount Everest has claimed its second life during the spring climbing season. Bijaya Ghimire, the first Nepali from the Dalit caste to summit the world’s highest peak, died while ascending from Base Camp to Camp 1.
The 35-year-old climber fell ill after traversing the Khumbu Icefall. He passed away at around 5,200 meters while being evacuated to Base Camp. “We do not know the exact cause of death, but it is likely related to altitude sickness,” said Lukla police inspector Tul Bahadur Salami.
Ghimire first conquered Everest in 2016, later repeating the feat in 2019 and 2023. He made headlines as the first member of the Dalit community—the lowest in the Hindu social hierarchy—to reach the summit. To fund the expedition, he mortgaged his home. A year earlier, his attempt had been thwarted by an earthquake that triggered deadly avalanches, killing about 20 people.
After achieving his goal, Ghimire focused on helping other Dalit climbers, especially women. In 2019, he returned to Everest’s summit alongside Gyanmala Ranapal, the first female Dalit climber to accomplish the feat.
Ghimire’s death is the second recorded this spring on Everest. Earlier, 52-year-old Lakpa Dendi Sherpa died after falling while trekking from Gorakshep to Base Camp.