Nadia, West Bengal | September 21, 2026: A mountaineering expedition to Mount Manaslu in Nepal has ended in tragedy, with West Bengal’s Dhrubajyoti Guha losing his life in an avalanche at Camp III of the world’s eighth-highest mountain.
Guha, a mountaineer from Krishnanagar in Nadia district, had travelled to Nepal with the ambition of reaching the summit of Mount Manaslu, which rises to 8,163 metres (26,781 feet) above sea level. His dream, however, remained unfulfilled after a powerful avalanche struck the area where he was staying.
His Sherpa guide, Fursemba Sherpa, also died in the incident.
Avalanche Strikes Camp III Amid Deteriorating Weather
According to reports from expedition officials and Nepali authorities, Guha and Fursemba had moved from Camp II towards Camp III on Saturday evening, September 19, as weather conditions on the mountain deteriorated.
Several climbers from the expedition had reportedly decided to retreat towards lower camps because of worsening weather and heavy snowfall. Guha and Fursemba, however, continued towards Camp III as part of an early summit push.
The two climbers were staying inside a tent at Camp III when an avalanche swept down above the camp.
The avalanche buried the tent under a huge quantity of fresh snow. When contact with the two men was lost, the expedition organisers sent a rescue team towards Camp III to search for them.
Rescuers eventually located the tent buried under approximately seven feet of snow, with both Guha and Fursemba found dead inside.
Rescue Operation Hampered by Dangerous Conditions
The rescue operation itself was complicated by continued snowfall and the risk of further avalanches.
According to expedition organiser Makalu Adventure, four Sherpa climbers were sent towards Camp III after the two stopped responding. The rescuers had to dig through the snow to locate the buried tent and recover the bodies.
However, bringing the bodies down immediately was considered dangerous because of the continuing avalanche threat. Reports said efforts were being made to move the bodies towards base camp, from where they were expected to be transported to Kathmandu by helicopter, weather permitting.
Who Was Dhrubajyoti Guha?
Guha was originally from Krishnanagar’s Shashtitala area in Nadia district, according to reports from West Bengal media.
Although professionally associated with engineering and multinational corporate work, mountaineering was reportedly one of his major passions. Reports said he had been living in Germany for several years in connection with his professional career.
National and international reports have described him as an Indian-origin climber based in Germany. The Times of India reported that he had graduated in mechanical engineering from Bengal Engineering College, Shibpur — now IIEST Shibpur — in 2002, and had worked with companies including ABB, IBM, Pfizer and Nestlé.
Beyond his professional career, Guha was also known for endurance sports. According to the Times of India and Mint, he had completed numerous ultra-endurance trail-running events, including 32 UTMB World Series races, several of them exceeding 100 kilometres.
His passion for high-altitude mountaineering eventually brought him to Mount Manaslu, where he attempted one of the most demanding climbs in the Himalayas.
Experienced Sherpa Guide Also Lost His Life
Guha’s climbing partner and guide, Fursemba Sherpa, was an experienced Nepali high-altitude guide from the Makalu region.
The Times of India reported that Sherpa was registered with the Nepal Mountaineering Association and had previously summited Mount Everest nine times. He had also climbed several other major Himalayan peaks, including Kangchenjunga, Lhotse, Cho Oyu and Manaslu.
His death alongside Guha highlights the dangers faced not only by international climbers but also by the highly experienced Nepali mountain professionals who accompany them on high-altitude expeditions.
Manaslu Witnesses Multiple Fatalities This Season
The deaths of Guha and Fursemba have taken the reported number of fatalities on Mount Manaslu during the current autumn climbing season to four.
Earlier this season, Singaporean climber Lau Wee Seng, 50, died at around 6,000 metres while descending from Camp II. A 20-year-old Nepali high-altitude worker, Tashi Sherpa, was also found dead inside a tent at base camp earlier in September.
Nepali media reported that around 480 climbers had received permits to attempt Manaslu during the current season, underlining the scale of activity on the mountain.
The mountain’s popularity has grown considerably among climbers seeking to summit an 8,000-metre peak, but its high-altitude terrain, rapidly changing weather and avalanche-prone slopes continue to present significant risks.
A Dream That Ended Before the Summit
For Guha, the Manaslu expedition represented another major chapter in a long-standing relationship with the mountains.
The goal was to stand on the summit of an 8,163-metre Himalayan giant. Instead, the expedition ended at Camp III, where an avalanche buried the tent in which Guha and his Sherpa guide were staying.
His death has brought grief to his family and community in Krishnanagar, while the loss of Fursemba Sherpa has also cast a shadow over Nepal’s mountaineering community.
The tragedy is another reminder of the unpredictable nature of high-altitude mountaineering. Even experienced climbers can face rapidly changing conditions, and on mountains such as Manaslu, a narrow weather window can make the difference between a successful summit attempt and a life-threatening situation.
For Dhrubajyoti Guha, the summit of Manaslu remained just beyond reach. His journey, however, reflects the determination and passion that continue to draw climbers from across the world to the high Himalayas.
