Key facts
- Indian authorities are initiating a process to recover the body of climber Dorje Morup from Mount Everest.
- Morup, known as 'Green Boots' due to his attire, died on the mountain in May 1996.
- His remains are located on the Tibetan side of Everest, an area controlled by China.
- The recovery operation is contingent on obtaining approval from Chinese authorities and favorable weather.
- China has closed Mount Everest to foreign climbers for the 2026 spring season.
Indian authorities are undertaking efforts to recover the body of a climber, widely known as 'Green Boots,' from the upper reaches of Mount Everest. The climber, identified as Dorje Morup, died on the mountain nearly three decades ago during a severe storm in May 1996. His remains, recognizable by their bright green mountaineering boots, have become a grim landmark on the northern route above 8,000 meters. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police has begun the process of hiring high-altitude recovery specialists for the operation.
The recovery is complicated by the body's location on the Tibetan side of Everest, which is under Chinese control and has tightly regulated climbing permits. China recently closed the mountain to foreign climbers for the 2026 spring season without providing a public reason.
Experts note that retrieving bodies from the 'death zone' is exceptionally dangerous due to extreme altitude, severe weather, and the inability of helicopters to land. Recovery teams, typically experienced Sherpa guides, must carry bodies down steep, hazardous slopes. Approximately 350 people have died on Everest since its first ascent in 1953, with many bodies remaining on the mountain due to the risks and costs associated with retrieval.