For nearly three decades, the frozen body known worldwide as “Green Boots” has remained inside a rocky shelter close to the summit of Mount Everest. India is now preparing an extraordinarily dangerous operation to bring the remains home.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has initiated the process of hiring a specialist high-altitude agency to retrieve the body from Everest’s northern, Tibet-facing route. The force believes that the remains belong to Lance Naik Dorje Morup, an ITBP mountaineer from Ladakh who died during the catastrophic 1996 Everest expedition.

An official government tender describes the operation as the recovery of the mortal remains of “Late Dorje Morup Green Boot” from the Tibet side of Mount Everest. The mission has been proposed for the June-September 2026 window.

However, the identity has not yet been scientifically confirmed. If the recovery succeeds, the remains are expected to undergo DNA testing before being handed over to Morup’s family.

What Happened During the 1996 Expedition?

Morup was part of a six-member ITBP team attempting to make the first Indian ascent of Everest from its more treacherous northern side.

On May 10, 1996, worsening weather forced three members of the summit team to turn back. Morup, Subedar Tsewang Smanla and Head Constable Tsewang Paljor continued towards the summit.

The Chinese authorities later issued Morup’s family a certificate recording that he had reached the summit at 5.30 pm that day. A powerful blizzard struck while the three climbers were descending. None returned to the high camp.

Their deaths formed part of the infamous 1996 Everest disaster, during which eight climbers from different expeditions died in severe weather.

Two of the three ITBP climbers were never conclusively located. The third body was found beneath an overhanging rock at an altitude of about 8,500 metres. Its bright lime-green mountaineering boots gave it the name “Green Boots”.

Over the years, the body became a chilling landmark for climbers using Everest’s Northeast Ridge.

Was ‘Green Boots’ Tsewang Paljor or Dorje Morup?

For many years, the body was widely believed to be that of Tsewang Paljor, another member of the same ITBP expedition.

Accounts from surviving expedition members, the location of the body and an examination of its clothing and climbing equipment have since led Indian authorities to believe that it is Morup.

The ITBP tender formally associates the name “Green Boots” with Dorje Morup. DNA testing after the recovery, however, will be required to settle the decades-old question beyond doubt.

Why Is the Recovery So Dangerous?

The remains lie in Everest’s “death zone”, the area above 8,000 metres where the amount of available oxygen is roughly one-third of that at sea level. Temperatures can fall to around minus 40 degrees Celsius, while storms, falling rocks and exhaustion can kill climbers within hours.

Helicopters cannot safely collect a body from this altitude. The remains will first have to be separated from the surrounding ice and manually carried or lowered across steep, exposed terrain.

The operation is expected to require at least six highly experienced Nepali Sherpas with previous Everest summits and expertise in recovery work above 8,000 metres. Additional climbers may be needed to fix ropes and carry oxygen and equipment.

The selected agency will also have to secure permission from Chinese authorities, transport the remains across the Tibet-Nepal border and complete the legal formalities for bringing them to India.

Mountaineering experts have warned that the mission must not expose the recovery team to unacceptable danger. Frozen bodies can become extremely heavy after decades under ice, making their movement even more difficult.

A Family Waiting for Closure

Morup’s wife, Konchok Yangskit, is now around 75. She has said that because she never saw her husband’s body, accepting his death remained difficult despite the family performing the traditional prayers after the tragedy.

Morup’s eldest son, Punchok Dorjai, said the family plans to hold a funeral near the Martyrs Park in Leh if the remains are successfully brought back.

The family also wants Morup and his two colleagues to be officially remembered as martyrs who died while representing India on the world’s highest mountain.

After waiting for 30 years, they hope to preserve one final symbol of Morup’s extraordinary and tragic journey — his green boots.