Grimmest climbing year since '15 as bad weather, risky calls kill 40

At least 40 climbers and expedition workers have died across Nepal’s Himalayas and PoK’s Karakoram since May this year, making 2026 the region’s deadliest mountaineering year since 2015. Heavy snowfall and changing weather created hazardous conditions, but decisions to continue climbing or remain at exposed camps despite worsening weather also figured in several deaths. Two avalanches accounted for 26 fatalities; 10 were on Broad Peak (8,051m), including record-setting mountaineer Nirmal Purja and five other accomplished Nepalese climbers, and 16 at Himlung Himal (7,126m).High-altitude expedition safety analyst Dr Aris Thorne told TOI commercial considerations and record-setting attempts could complicate decisions to turn back. “When stakes are this high, climbers often gamble against the mountain's timeline rather than the weather forecast. We saw teams bypass obvious red flags because turning back means writing off thousands of dollars and months of logistical prep.