The world’s highest peak, Mount Everest (Qomolangma), which reopened for summit attempts after being closed for two seasons, has seen four experienced climbers dead and two others missing within just one week of the climbing season beginning — with little hope of finding the missing.

At 29,035 feet above sea level, Mount Everest (also known as Qomolangma) attracts a large number of climbing enthusiasts every year who hope to fulfill their dream of reaching the summit. However, due to the harsh natural environment, even seasoned and skilled mountaineers often lose their lives on the way to the top. Last year and the year before, 19 and 16 climbers and guides respectively lost their lives, making it one of the most dangerous outdoor activities in the world.

According to a report by Mail Today, two Indian climbers, Paresh Nath and Goutam Ghosh, recently embarked on their ambitious journey to climb Mount Everest, but they lost contact with their team when they were near the 8,848-meter mark.

As a result, the climbing team immediately called for help, and search and rescue personnel have launched a search operation. However, given the current weather conditions, rescuers believe the chances of the missing climbers surviving are slim.

Along with Paresh Nath and Goutam Ghosh, there were two other climbers on the Mount Everest expedition. One of them, Subhash Pal, also from India, fell while descending along the Hillary Step ice wall on the 21st and died the next day; another female climber was rescued and taken to hospital for treatment.

Phurba Sherpa, a 25-year-old climber, accidentally fell to his death on the 19th while attempting to adjust the route to get closer to the summit of Mount Everest. Prior to Sherpa’s death, Eric Arnold, a 36-year-old Dutch triathlete and fifth-time Everest climber, died of altitude sickness on the 21st after reaching the summit.

Maria Strydom, a senior climber and academic at Australia’s Monash University, also died on the 21st from altitude sickness and lack of oxygen. Before her death, she told her husband that climbing Mount Everest was meant to prove to the world that vegetarians are not weak or malnourished.

In just one week, four climbers have died and two have gone missing on Mount Everest. 1050525

(CNA)