It’s been a year since the mountaineering world held its breath as news broke of Indian climber Baljeet Kaur’s harrowing ordeal on Annapurna. Today, we look back on the incredible story of survival that unfolded in April 2023, reminding us of the thin line between triumph and tragedy in the world’s highest places.
Baljeet Kaur, a 28-year-old Indian mountaineer, was rescued last year after going missing on Annapurna, one of the most challenging peaks in the world. Her journey began on April 17, 2023, when she lost contact with her team while descending from the summit of the mountain, which stands at 8,091 meters.
Annapurna, one of the world’s deadliest peaks, kept Kaur, trapped as the winds blew at over 24,000 feet above sea level. Kaur would be left alone, weary, and experiencing hallucinations. This would result in a 48-hour experience that would push the boundaries of human survival.
Baljeet Kaur successfully summited Annapurna without supplemental oxygen, However, That summit quickly turned to terror as she became separated from her team during the descent. What followed was a desperate battle against the elements, fatigue, and her own mind..
“I knew before leaving for Nepal that this would be a difficult climb,” Kaur wrote later in blog.
The expedition began with hope and high expectations. Kaur, already celebrated as the first Indian to summit five 8,000-meter peaks in 30 days and seven 8,000-meter peaks overall. She has also climbed two 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen set out from base camp on March 26, 2023 for Annapurna.
On April 15, Kaur reached Camp IV. The weather was poor, but the team saw a brief summit window that night. Without supplemental oxygen, Kaur began her ascent at 2:30 p.m. on April 16.
She summited Annapurna on the morning of April 17, the descent quickly unraveled into chaos. Kaur, fatigued and disoriented, began to hallucinate. She saw a young girl on the summit congratulating her, only for the figure to vanish when Kaur reached out to take an Indian flag from her. Even in her weakened state, she sensed danger, urging her companions to descend immediately.
Kaur fought to stay alive. She slapped herself awake, bit her fingers to prevent frostbite, and kept pushing forward in the bitter cold. Falling, getting up, hallucinating, and slapping herself back to reality—each moment became a test of willpower. At one point, she fell 20-30 meters but managed to stop herself using her crampons, narrowly avoiding death.
After two nights and nearly 48 hours without food, water, sleep, or oxygen, Kaur summoned the strength to send a distress signal using her Garmin Earthmate app. It was 7:41 a.m. on April 17 when her expedition agency, Pioneer, received the message. By 9:00 a.m., a search and rescue operation was underway, involving helicopters flying in hazardous conditions. Kaur was finally spotted at 7,300 meters, still making her slow, agonizing descent.
Air-lifted from the mountain and rushed to Kathmandu for treatment, Kaur was found to be suffering from frostbite but otherwise safe. Her rescue was a testament to her resilience and survival instincts, as well as the coordinated efforts of Sherpa climbers and helicopter crews.
Adding to the chaos, news outlets had prematurely reported her death during the rescue operation, further traumatizing her family. “That disturbed me more, knowing what my family must have gone through,” she remarked.
Within the climbing community, Baljeet Kaur’s survival tale has now come to represent a source of strength and optimism. Known for her past record-breaking feats, her near-death experience on Annapurna has only served to highlight the need for difficult planning and preparation in addition to physical power when climbing at high altitudes.
Her experience has made us aware of how dangerous mountaineering can be, and how every choice you make could mean the difference between life and death.
