6 days ago
Bengal mountaineer lies dead on Everest: why is it so difficult to retrieve a fallen climber's body?
A 45-year-old mountaineer from Ranaghat, West Bengal, died while descending from Mount Everest last month.
The body of Subrata Ghosh, which was spotted on Hillary Step in the so-called 'death zone' of Everest on May 16, continues to lie frozen on the world's highest peak, even as a death certificate has been issued.
Here's what experts say on the challenges of retrieving a body from high peaks such as Everest and Kanchenjunga, sometimes referred to ominously as the 'world's highest graveyards'.
Why is it so difficult to bring down the body of a mountaineer from a peak such as Everest?
The first hurdle is the costs involved. 'Altitude body recovery is a huge task; it is exorbitantly costly,' Debdas Nandi, Adviser to the West Bengal Mountaineering and Adventure Sports Foundation (WBMASF), under the state's Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, said.
Costs include the remuneration for sherpas, insurance, medical and logistics support, and the rent for a helicopter.
Very few companies are capable of undertaking such missions, which drives up costs further, Nandi said. No more than 2 or 3 out of more than 100 expedition organizers specialize in the retrieval of bodies, and the cost in Ghosh's case could exceed Rs 1 crore, he said.
Debasish Biswas, a mountaineer who knew Ghosh, said one of the organizers had apparently estimated a budget of Rs 1.5 crore to retrieve the body. Eight or ten good sherpas would be required, and the cost of employing them alone could exceed Rs 50 lakh, Biswas said.
Most victims of Everest fall in the 'death zone' at altitudes above 8,000 metres, often in crevasses covered by snow and ice. Once the team of sherpas reaches the body, moving it can be extremely difficult, especially if it is in a tough-to-reach spot or at an altitude where a helicopter cannot operate, or where there is a danger of avalanches or rockfalls.
'There are places through which transporting a body is extremely challenging. Some rock faces are nearly vertical, and the body must be gently lowered using a rope as the sherpas themselves make their way down,' Nandi said.
A frozen body can weigh more than 200 pounds (90 kg) with equipment, and if it is embedded in the mountain, prising it away and bringing it down presents an additional challenge. The task of lowering or carrying the body down to a lower altitude from where it can be safely transported by helicopter, can take several days, with a number of rest stops.
'A helicopter can go up to Camp 2 on Everest, which is located at an altitude of 6,750 metres (22,145 feet),' Nandi said. 'At altitudes higher than that, only sherpas can operate.'
Subrata Ghosh's case presents a specific challenge because the spring climbing season (March-May, when the weather is stable) is now over.
'The season closed on May 29, so there is no logistics support available,' Nandi said. 'Subrata Ghosh's body is lying 500-600 metres below the peak, at a very dangerous place. It is so narrow that two people cannot pass together. Even if the family approaches the government, it can only be done later, not in this season,' he said.
What sort of preparation goes into attempting a retrieval?
Retrieval, if and when feasible, has to be planned and executed meticulously.
The first step is to identify and report a missing or deceased climber to the relevant authorities, such as the Nepalese government or expedition organisers.
Next, a thorough feasibility assessment has to be conducted, considering the body's location, weather conditions, and the availability of skilled personnel and resources.
A detailed retrieval plan is then formulated, outlining the route, necessary equipment, and manpower. Coordination between government agencies, climbing teams, and rescue organizations is of paramount importance.
Climbers and rescuers may have to undergo acclimatization and specialized training for high-altitude operations, mastering the use of ropes, ladders, harnesses, and other equipment.
Once the body is reached, it must be examined, documented, and prepared for extraction, sometimes using stretchers or sleds.
What are the odds of success of a mission to retrieve a body from a mountain peak?
Despite immense challenges, successful retrievals have occurred in the past. These include the bodies of Dipankar Ghosh, who climbed Everest in 2011, and died while descending from Makalu, the fifth highest mountain in the world, in May 2019; Rajib Bhattacharya, who died on Dhaulagiri, the seventh highest peak, in May 2016; Biplab Baidya and Kuntal Karar, who died on Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest mountain, in May 2019; and Paresh Nath, who died on Everest in May 2016. Bodies of several of the more than 40 dead in the 2014 Annapurna disaster were retrieved as well.
However, many bodies could not be retrieved, including that of Chhanda Gayen, the first Bengali civilian woman to conquer Everest, who died on Kanchenjunga in May 2014.
Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics.
With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences.
Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
