Full Breakdown
India Plans High-Altitude Mission to Retrieve “Green Boots” on Everest’s North Face
8/8/2026, 10:47:52 PM
Core Event: Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Seeks Specialist Team to Recover Dorje Morup’s Remains
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is looking for a specialised high-altitude rescue unit to retrieve the frozen body known as “Green Boots” from Everest’s north side. Authorities say the remains belong to Dorje Morup, a 48-year-old lance naik who died in a 1996 blizzard. The ITBP aims to bring the body back to India by September, after which DNA testing will confirm identity before handing the remains to his family.
Background & Context
In May 1996, Morup and two teammates—Tsewang Smanla and Tsewang Paljor—reached the summit via the Chinese-administered northern route. A sudden snowstorm forced a deadly descent; all three perished. The body identified by its lime-green climbing boots has lain at roughly 8,500 m for three decades. Survivor testimony and gear analysis have led the ITBP to conclude it is Morup’s.
Data & Statistics
- Altitude of the body: ~8,500 m (the “death zone”).
- Environmental conditions: Temperatures can drop to –40 °C; oxygen levels are about one-third of sea-level values.
- Logistical demands: Experts estimate 10–12 summit-capable climbers are needed to install support ropes to the site.
- Cost estimate: Recovery missions typically cost between US $40,000 and $80,000.
- Timeline: Target to complete the extraction by September.
Official Statements & Responses
An ITBP official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the force has never abandoned the effort to return Morup home and that recent gear analysis has strengthened confidence in the identification. The agency is funding the operation and is reaching out to Sherpa-led rescue teams for participation.
Mountaineering guide Pemba Ongchu Sherpa explained that the descent would be “brutally difficult” even in spring, noting extensive rope work and the weight of the frozen body complicating transport.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The weather and snow conditions are going to be crucial,” — Tshiring Jangbu Sherpa, Nepalese mountaineer
On-the-Ground Reports
Morup’s wife, Konchak Yangskit, now in her mid-70s, described nightly moments when she imagined a knock at the door, hoping her husband would return. Their son, Punchok Dorjai, said that if the body is returned, the family will hold a funeral near Martyrs Park in Leh and preserve the green boots as a symbol of his legacy.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The “Green Boots” corpse was long believed to be Tsewang Paljor. The shift to identifying the remains as Morup rests on recent gear analysis and radio-log evidence, but no independent forensic confirmation has been made public. DNA testing after repatriation will resolve the uncertainty.
What’s Next
The ITBP continues to solicit a qualified Sherpa rescue team to execute the extraction before the September deadline. Upon successful retrieval, the body will be flown to a laboratory for DNA verification and then handed over to Morup’s family for final rites. The operation underscores the logistical and ethical challenges of recovering bodies from Everest’s death zone.
