Indian mountaineer dies during Lhotse descent as Himalayan death toll rises to four this season

Two climbers lost their lives on May 18 while attempting to scale Mt Lhotse, the world’s fourth-highest peak, located in Nepal’s Everest region, according to base camp officials.

The victims have been identified as Rakesh Bishnoi from Rajasthan, India, and Zsolt Vago, a Romanian television operator.

Bishnoi was part of an expedition organized by Makalu Adventure, while Vago was climbing with Glacier Himalaya Treks.

Mohan Lamsal, Managing Director of Makalu Adventure, said, “Rakesh Bishnoi from Rajasthan, India, breathed his last at Yellow Band near Camp IV after returning from the summit point on Lhotse,” quoting climbing guides.

Bishnoi had successfully reached the summit of Lhotse after abandoning an earlier attempt on Mt Everest.

Romanian national Zsolt Vago, described by officials as one of the most experienced videographers at Romanian national TV, died above 8,000 meters near the Lhotse Couloir.

His death was also confirmed by expedition teams on the mountain. Efforts are currently underway to retrieve both climbers’ bodies from high altitude.

These incidents follow the deaths of two other foreign climbers—a Filipino and another Indian mountaineer affiliated with Snowy Horizon Treks—who died earlier while attempting to summit Mt Everest.