KATHMANDU: The Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) on Tuesday paid tribute to Bijay Ghimire Biswakarma, the first person from Nepal's Dalit community to summit Mt. Everest, whose mortal remains were kept at the NMA premises from 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm to allow the public to pay their final respects to the pioneering climber.

Ghimire, from Solu Dudhkunda Municipality, Solukhumbu, died on Sunday, May 10, in the Khumbu Icefall due to suspected cardiac arrest while attempting his fourth summit of the world's highest peak as part of an expedition managed by TAG Nepal Treks and Expeditions. He was also a well-known YouTuber.

At a brief condolence assembly at the NMA premises, Member of Parliament from Solukhumbu Prakash Singh Karki, National Dalit Commission Chairman Devraj Biswakarma, Department of Tourism Director General Ram Krishna Lamichhane, and NMA President Fur Gelje Sherpa expressed their condolences and paid tribute to the late mountaineer.

Ghimire's body was recovered and airlifted to Lukla by Altitude Air before being brought to Kathmandu. Lukla police said the body will be handed over to his family following post-mortem.

His death is the second fatality of the Spring 2026 Everest season. The first was Lakpa Dendi Sherpa, a Sherpa guide who died near Everest Base Camp just above Gorak Shep earlier in the season. The third death occured on May 12 as a  Sherpa climber died near Camp III on Mt Everest, taking the season's death toll on the world's highest peak to three.