Indian Army Team Summits; Naik Narayan Singh Dies on Descent
| Event date | 16 May 2019 |
|---|---|
| Location | Makalu, about 8,100 m, descending to Camp IV |
| Type | Climbing accident |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Verification | Verified (official Indian government press release) |
| Status | Historical / closed |
An 18-member Indian Army mountaineering expedition summited Makalu on 16 May 2019. On the way down from the summit to Camp IV, team member Naik Narayan Singh developed high-altitude illness and died at about 8,100 metres. He had joined the army in 2002, came from Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand, and left a wife and three young children.
The same expedition had drawn worldwide attention a few weeks earlier when the Indian Army posted photos of large footprints near Makalu Base Camp and described them as “Yeti” tracks, a claim that drew widespread scepticism.
Sources
- Press Information Bureau, Government of India — Naik Narayan Singh, Indian Army expedition to Mt Makalu
- The Kathmandu Post — "Two Indian climbers killed during Everest, Makalu expeditions"
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.