Two Indian Climbers Die near Camp IV; Chilean Climber Missing
| Event date | 15 May 2019 |
|---|---|
| Location | Near Camp IV (~7,550–8,000 m) |
| Type | Climbing accident; missing persons |
| Deaths | 2 (Biplab Baidya; Kuntal Karar) |
| Missing | 1 (Rodrigo Vivanco, Chile) |
| Verification | Verified |
| Status | Historical / closed |
Two members of a five-person team of climbers from West Bengal died high on Kanchenjunga on 15 May 2019. Biplab Baidya (48) reached the summit, while Kuntal Karar (46) fell ill on the way up; both were unable to get down and died near Camp IV, with reports citing altitude illness, hypothermia and snow blindness.
On the same day, Chilean climber Rodrigo Vivanco went missing above Camp IV after summiting late in the evening, and was not found despite searches. It was one of several fatal days across Nepal’s 8,000-metre peaks in the crowded spring of 2019.
Sources
- The Kathmandu Post — "Two Indian climbers killed, one Chilean missing on Kanchenjunga"
- Explorersweb — "Deaths on Makalu, Everest, Lhotse and Kangchenjunga"
Last reviewed 29 September 2026. Written in Merolog’s own words from the sources listed; where sources disagree, each figure is attributed rather than merged. Spotted an error or a newer figure? Leave a comment on this entry.