Full Breakdown
DNA Test Confirms Identity of Everest’s “Green Boots” and Triggers Recovery Mission
7/1/2026, 11:34:46 PM
Core Event: DNA Confirmation and Planned Retrieval
A DNA comparison conducted by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has identified the long-known “Green Boots” body on the north-east ridge of Mount Everest as Indian climber Dorje Morup, 47. The finding ends a three-decade debate over the remains’ identity and precedes an Indian-led operation to retrieve the body from the mountain’s death zone, with a specialist high-altitude rescue team slated to act before October.
Background: 1996 North-Face Disaster and the Landmark’s Origin
On 10 May 1996, an ITBP expedition attempted the north face of Everest. A ferocious blizzard forced three members—Dorje Morup, Tsewang Paljor (28) and Tsewang Samanla—to remain near the summit. Radio reports at 15:45 NPT claimed they had reached the top, but later accounts suggested they may have been about 130 m (430 ft) below. The storm intensified, visibility vanished, and the three climbers never returned. Their bodies, preserved in a small cave-like recess at roughly 27 890 ft, became a macabre waypoint known as “Green Boots” because of the bright green mountaineering boots still visible. Over the years, the site served as a reference point for climbers on the north-east ridge and accumulated discarded oxygen cylinders.
Timeline of Key Developments
- 10 May 1996: ITBP north-face team caught in blizzard; Morup, Paljor and Samanla perish.
- 1996 Disaster: Eight climbers die on Everest, including the three ITBP members.
- Recent years (exact date unspecified): DNA testing by ITBP confirms the body as Dorje Morup.
- Summer 2024 (as reported): Indian authorities plan a high-altitude recovery mission, aiming for completion by October.
Data & Statistics
- Altitude of “Green Boots” site: ~27 890 ft (8 500 m) within the death zone (>26 000 ft).
- Ages of the three deceased climbers: Dorje Morup 47; Tsewang Paljor 28; Tsewang Samanla (unspecified).
- 1996 Everest death toll: 8 climbers, including the three ITBP members.
- Distinctive feature: Bright green boots that made the body a landmark for subsequent expeditions.
Official Statements & Responses
The ITBP announced that DNA analysis unequivocally matches the remains to Dorje Morup, ending speculation that the body belonged to Tsewang Paljor. Indian authorities, citing the need for “specialist high-altitude agencies and experienced Sherpas,” have authorized a recovery operation to bring closure to Morup’s family. The mission will be conducted from the mountain’s Tibetan side and is scheduled for completion before the end of October.
Criticism & Opposition
No dissenting viewpoints or organized criticism of the recovery plan appear in the available reports.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Prior to the DNA test, many mountaineers believed the “Green Boots” body was that of Tsewang Paljor. The new forensic evidence overturns that attribution but does not resolve uncertainties about whether the three climbers actually summited, given conflicting radio reports and limited visibility at the time.
What’s Next: Recovery Operation Outlook
The Indian government is assembling a team of high-altitude rescue specialists and Sherpa guides to extract the body from the death zone. If successful, the operation will mark the first retrieval of a body from this altitude on Everest, providing closure for Morup’s relatives and setting a precedent for future high-altitude recoveries.
