India to launch Everest recovery mission for climber Dorje Morup

DNA testing has confirmed that the frozen body long known as “Green Boots” on Mount Everest’s north side belongs to Lance Naik Dorje Morup, an Indian soldier of the Indo‑Tibetan Border Police who died in the 1996 blizzard. The body, located at about 8,500 m in the death zone, has served as a grim landmark for climbers for three decades.

India is now seeking a specialist high‑altitude recovery team to retrieve the remains and bring them back to the climber’s family in Ladakh. Officials plan to complete the operation by September 2026, with the mission requiring 10‑12 experienced climbers to establish ropes and navigate the steep, icy terrain on the Chinese side of the summit. After recovery, DNA testing will be performed again to confirm identity before the remains are handed over to the family for a funeral.

The effort is being funded by the Indo‑Tibetan Border Police and highlights the logistical and safety challenges of high‑altitude body retrieval, including extreme cold, low oxygen, and the weight of frozen equipment. The family, including wife Konchak Yangskit, has awaited closure for three decades, saying, “On some days I would think there’d be a knock on the door tonight and when I opened, he would be there.”