Srinagar: A South Korean mountaineer died, and another remains in critical condition after falling ill during an expedition in Ladakh. The Indian Army said the two climbers became seriously unwell on September 4 near Kongmarula, an isolated peak in the region, prompting a high-altitude night rescue operation.
Leh-based Fire and Fury Corps Army Aviation helicopters carried out a challenging casualty evacuation from an unprepared site. The mountaineers were flown to Sonam Nurboo Memorial Hospital in Leh for urgent medical care.
Despite the swift intervention, one of the climbers did not survive. The Army expressed condolences to the bereaved family.
“On September 4, 2025, during a mountaineering expedition, two South Korean nationals fell critically ill near Kongmarula, an isolated peak of Ladakh. Army Aviation helicopters of the Fire & Fury Corps executed a night casualty evacuation from an unprepared site at an altitude of 17,000 feet, ensuring timely transfer to SNM Hospital, Leh. The Fire and Fury Corps expresses heartfelt condolences to the family of the mountaineer who unfortunately lost his life,” the Army said.
The Army frequently undertakes such high-risk humanitarian missions in Ladakh, where extreme terrain and high altitudes often leave adventurers vulnerable.
Last week, a similar tragedy struck a mountaineering expedition to Mount Nun in Ladakh, when heavy snowfall claimed the life of Kamal Mondal, an Assistant Vigilance Officer with the South Eastern Railway, on the night of August 26.
