Khumbu Icefall serac collapse injures Indian climber, Sherpa on Everest
Synopsis
A serac collapse on the Khumbu Icefall — Everest's most dangerous passage — struck two climbers during a routine acclimatisation descent on 5 May, injuring an Indian mountaineer and a Sherpa guide. Both were airlifted to Kathmandu within an hour and are now stable, underscoring the persistent lethal hazards of the world's most-climbed high-altitude route even in a record-permit season.
Key Takeaways
Nimish Kumar Singh , 40 (India), and Pembha Tenduk Sherpa , 44 (Nepal), were injured in a serac collapse on the Khumbu Icefall at 5:45 a.m. on 5 May 2025 .
The pair were part of a multi-agency acclimatisation descent from Camp II to Camp I when falling ice struck the route.
Rescue was led by teams from Pioneer Adventure Pvt.
Ltd. and Summit Force Expedition ; helicopter evacuation was coordinated by Seven Summit Trek Pvt.
Both climbers were airlifted from near Lukla airport by 6:30 a.m. and are being treated at HAMS Hospital, Kathmandu — condition reported as stable.
As of 1 May 2025 , 464 climbers from 47 teams had received Everest permits this spring season, including 58 Indian climbers from 25 expedition teams.
An Indian mountaineer and a Sherpa guide were injured early on Tuesday, 5 May after a serac collapse along the Khumbu Icefall route on Mt. Everest sent falling ice onto the main climbing path, Nepal's Department of Tourism confirmed. Both climbers have been airlifted to Kathmandu and are reported to be in stable condition.
Who Was Injured and How
The injured climbers have been identified as Nimish Kumar Singh, 40, an Indian mountaineer, and Pembha Tenduk Sherpa, 44, a mountain guide from Nepal. According to the department, the incident occurred at approximately 5:45 a.m. when a serac — a large, unstable block or pinnacle of glacial ice formed by intersecting crevasses — collapsed, sending ice blocks cascading onto the active climbing route below.
At the time, permit-holding climbers and Sherpa guides from multiple expedition agencies were descending toward Camp I from Camp II via the Khumbu Icefall as part of the standard acclimatisation process, having earlier ascended from Everest Base Camp.
Rescue and Evacuation
A team of Sherpa guides from Pioneer Adventure Pvt. Ltd. and Summit Force Expedition carried out an immediate on-site rescue and alerted officials stationed at Everest Base Camp. A coordinated helicopter evacuation was subsequently arranged by Seven Summit Trek Pvt. Ltd. At around 6:30 a.m., a helicopter dispatched from Lukla airport airlifted both injured climbers to Kathmandu. They are currently receiving treatment at HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu, where the Department of Tourism confirmed their condition is stable and they are
Point of View
Yet the permit system continues to funnel record numbers of climbers through it each spring season. Nepal's decision to raise royalty fees to $15,000 per climber has not translated into meaningfully safer infrastructure on the Icefall — the route is still managed largely by the Icefall Doctors, a small team of Sherpas who set and maintain fixed ropes and ladders under extreme risk. With 464 Everest permits issued this season alone, the probability of incidents on this bottleneck section only rises. The real question is whether Nepal's mountaineering revenue model will ever fund the safety upgrades that the world's highest-traffic death zone arguably demands.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on the Khumbu Icefall on 5 May 2025?
A serac collapse sent falling ice onto the main Everest climbing route at around 5:45 a.m. on 5 May 2025, injuring Indian mountaineer Nimish Kumar Singh and Sherpa guide Pembha Tenduk Sherpa. Both were on a routine acclimatisation descent from Camp II to Camp I at the time.
What is a serac and why is it dangerous?
A serac is a large, unstable block or pinnacle of glacial ice, typically formed by intersecting crevasses on a glacier or steep icefall. On the Khumbu Icefall, seracs can collapse without warning, sending massive ice blocks onto climbers below — making it one of the most hazardous sections of the Everest route.
What is the current condition of the injured climbers?
Both Nimish Kumar Singh and Pembha Tenduk Sherpa are being treated at HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu. Nepal's Department of Tourism confirmed their condition is stable and they are out of danger.
How many climbers have Everest permits this spring season?
As of 1 May 2025, Nepal's Department of Tourism had issued Everest climbing permits to 464 climbers from 47 teams, including 58 Indian climbers representing 25 expedition teams. Across all Nepalese peaks, 1,050 climbers from 125 teams have received permits.
How much does an Everest climbing permit cost in 2025?
Nepal has raised the royalty fee for Everest climbing permits to $15,000 per person, up from the previous $11,000, for the 2025 spring season.
