<p>Kathmandu: An Indian climber and another from the Philippines became the first mountaineers to die on Mount Everest in the current March-May climbing season of the world's highest peak, hiking officials said on Friday.</p><p>Subrata Ghosh, 45, from India, died on Thursday below the Hillary Step while returning after reaching the 8,849 metre (29,032 feet) peak.</p><p>"He refused to descend from below the Hillary Step," said Bodhraj Bhandari of Nepal's Snowy Horizon Treks and Expedition organising company.</p><p>No other details were available.</p><p>The Hillary Step is located in the 'death zone', an area between 8,000-metre (26,250 ft) high South Col and the summit where the level of natural oxygen is inadequate for survival.</p><p>"Efforts are underway to bring his body down to the base camp. The cause of his death will be known only after post mortem," Bhandari said.</p>.Nepal plans to restrict Everest permits to experienced climbers.<p>Philipp II Santiago, 45, from the Philippines, died late on Wednesday at the South Col while he was on his way up, said Himal Gautam, a tourism department official.</p><p>Santiago was tired when he reached the fourth high camp and died while resting in his tent, Gautam added.</p><p>Santiago and Ghose were both members of an international expedition organised by Bhandari.</p><p>Nepal has issued 459 permits to climb Everest during the current season that ends in May. Nearly 100 climbers and their guides have already reached the summit this week.</p><p>Mountain climbing, trekking and tourism is a source of income and employment for Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world.</p><p>At least 345 people have died on Everest in more than 100 years since summiting expeditions were known to have started, according to the Himalayan data base and hiking officials. </p>
<p>Kathmandu: An Indian climber and another from the Philippines became the first mountaineers to die on Mount Everest in the current March-May climbing season of the world's highest peak, hiking officials said on Friday.</p><p>Subrata Ghosh, 45, from India, died on Thursday below the Hillary Step while returning after reaching the 8,849 metre (29,032 feet) peak.</p><p>"He refused to descend from below the Hillary Step," said Bodhraj Bhandari of Nepal's Snowy Horizon Treks and Expedition organising company.</p><p>No other details were available.</p><p>The Hillary Step is located in the 'death zone', an area between 8,000-metre (26,250 ft) high South Col and the summit where the level of natural oxygen is inadequate for survival.</p><p>"Efforts are underway to bring his body down to the base camp. The cause of his death will be known only after post mortem," Bhandari said.</p>.Nepal plans to restrict Everest permits to experienced climbers.<p>Philipp II Santiago, 45, from the Philippines, died late on Wednesday at the South Col while he was on his way up, said Himal Gautam, a tourism department official.</p><p>Santiago was tired when he reached the fourth high camp and died while resting in his tent, Gautam added.</p><p>Santiago and Ghose were both members of an international expedition organised by Bhandari.</p><p>Nepal has issued 459 permits to climb Everest during the current season that ends in May. Nearly 100 climbers and their guides have already reached the summit this week.</p><p>Mountain climbing, trekking and tourism is a source of income and employment for Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world.</p><p>At least 345 people have died on Everest in more than 100 years since summiting expeditions were known to have started, according to the Himalayan data base and hiking officials. </p>