Chhanda Gayen was a self-defense instructor, mountaineer, and martial artist from India. On 18th May 2013, she made history by becoming the first and fastest Indian to climb both Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse in one day. In 22 hours, she traversed Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse. 

Jaya Gayen, a hobby trekker, inspired Chhanda, who was born on July 9th, 1979. Chhanda was exceptionally fit and lightweight. She began her training with an institute of exploration’s basic rock climbing course (1998). She participated in a number of mountaineering training programs in addition to many short hiking and climbing adventures. In 2005, she enrolled in a Gorabazar Baharampukur town club-sponsored rock climbing level course from Sushunia. 

The Avalanche 

Gayen, who had climbed Everest, and three other climbers from her state had climbed Kanchenjunga (8586 meters). Officials claimed she and the sherpas were climbing down from Yalung Kang, the world’s third-highest mountain when an avalanche occurred at 5,500 meters. 

 “While the climbers were about 7,300 meters, the weather began to deteriorate. They were buried after being caught in a never-ending snowstorm “Sankhuwasabha district inspector Krishna Dev Chaudhary informed authorities. 

Fatalities 

The three climbers were attempting to return to a lower camp on the mountain due to bad weather when they were buried around 11 a.m. that day, according to police. Due to bad weather, attempts to recover the bodies buried beneath the snow have been useless.  

The two Sherpa guides that perished alongside Gayen were Temba Sherpa, 24, and Dawa Wanju Sherpa, 28. Two additional Sherpa guides, as well as an unidentified Indian climber, are safe. 

During the avalanche, sixteen Sherpa guides perished. The catastrophe, which was the single worst in the mountain’s history, put an end to the world’s tallest peak’s spring climbing season. 

She was killed in an avalanche on the western side of Mount Kanchenjunga in Nepal on May 20th, 2014, along with two sherpas. The avalanche killed all three of them, according to later reports.