Afət Ziyadqızı
India is preparing to recover the remains of a climber who perished on Mount Everest three decades ago.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has initiated preparations to repatriate the remains of mountaineer Dorje Morup, who lost his life during an expedition to the Everest summit in 1996.
Specialists specializing in high-altitude rescue operations are currently engaged in discussions regarding the recovery mission. The remains of Morup, often referred to as "Green Boots" due to the distinctive footwear he wore at the time of his death, are located in the "death zone" of Everest, at an altitude exceeding 8,000 meters.
The recovery process presents significant logistical and diplomatic challenges, as the remains are situated on the Tibetan side of the mountain, which is under the jurisdiction of Chinese authorities. Consequently, the mission requires official authorization from Beijing and favorable weather conditions to proceed safely.
Reports indicate that China has closed the Tibetan route of Everest to foreign climbers for the 2026 spring season, and Beijing has yet to issue an official statement regarding the request. In May 1996, a six-member expedition team from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police was caught in a severe blizzard near the summit, resulting in the tragic deaths of Dorje Morup and two other climbers.
Mount Everest, the world's highest peak at 8,848 meters, remains one of the most perilous mountaineering destinations. The "death zone" above 8,000 meters is characterized by extremely low oxygen levels and unpredictable weather, which have historically made the recovery of bodies from this altitude exceptionally difficult and dangerous for rescue teams.
