Indian mountaineer Rohtash Khileri claimed a rare feat by staying 24 hours on Mount Elbrus without oxygen, enduring extreme cold and revealing he lost two fingers to frostbite during his journey.
Rohtash Khileri Story Indian Climber Spent 24 Hours on Mount Elbrus, Says ‘I Lost Two Fingers’ (Source: X)
It is a moment of pride for India as mountaineer Rohtash Khileri claimed to have achieved a rare feat on Mount Elbrus by staying at the summit for 24 hours without oxygen support. He shared this achievement on social media, bringing attention to what he described as a world record.
Mount Elbrus, located in Russia’s Caucasus region, stands at 18,510 feet and is the highest mountain in Europe. It is also one of the famous Seven Summits. The peak is known for its thick glaciers, powerful winds and extremely low temperatures, which make climbing conditions very harsh.
Rohtash Khileri is an Indian mountaineer known for taking on extreme high-altitude challenges. Over the past several years, he has trained in difficult mountain conditions and repeatedly attempted major peaks despite serious setbacks. His journey has included multiple failed expeditions due to bad weather and emergencies, as well as severe physical hardship, including frostbite injuries. Khileri’s story is often described as one of persistence, mental strength and long-term preparation, with Mount Elbrus becoming a key goal in his mountaineering career.
Khileri announced his achievement on X (formerly Twitter), saying that this moment was the result of eight years of effort, struggle and determination. In his post, he wrote:
“WORLD RECORD | First human to stay 24 hours on Europe’s highest peak — without oxygen. ‘24 Hours on the Top of Europe!’ Ye post likhna aasaan nahi hai… kyunki isme 8 saal ka dard, intezaar aur ek pagalpan bhara sapna juda hai (Writing this post is not easy because it carries eight years of pain, waiting and a mad dream)."
He explained that he completed the climb alone and remained alone at the summit because of the severe weather.
“Main akela hi climb kiya aur akela ruka. Is haddi todne wali thand mein koi bhi mere saath rukne ko taiyar nahi tha (I climbed alone and stayed alone. In this bone-breaking cold, no one was willing to stay with me)."
Khileri described the extreme weather conditions at the peak:
“Hawa ki raftaar 50–60 km/h tak, thand –40°C, aur Wind Chill –50°C se bhi niche (Wind speeds reached 50–60 km/h, temperatures dropped to –40°C and wind chill went below –50°C)."
He also noted that he had made several attempts to climb Elbrus since 2018, but earlier expeditions were cut short due to bad weather and emergency situations.
Khileri revealed the heavy physical toll of his mountaineering journey. He said he had suffered frostbite during previous climbs and lost two fingers. However, he said this did not weaken his determination.
“Frostbite mein meri do ungliyan chali gayi, lekin mera sapna nahi toota (I lost two fingers to frostbite, but my dream did not break)," he wrote.
He described the 24-hour summit stay as the toughest challenge of his life and credited his Everest training and the support he received from others for helping him succeed.
Khileri also posted a video from the summit showing the Indian flag flying in heavy snowfall and strong winds. In the video, he begins descending and warns that the weather is getting worse. His face, including his eyebrows and moustache, appears covered in ice due to the freezing conditions.
Khileri’s feat adds to several other notable Indian accomplishments on Mount Elbrus.
In June 2025, Teghbir Singh, a child from Punjab, became the youngest person to climb Mount Elbrus at the age of 6 years, 9 months and 4 days.
Later the same year, Narender Yadav became the first Indian to summit Mount Elbrus three times, marking another major milestone.
On August 15, 2024, mountaineer Ankit Malik celebrated India’s Independence Day at the summit by unfurling a 78-metre-long Indian flag, the largest ever carried there by a solo climber.
Earlier, in August 2021, Sharad Kulkarni from Maharashtra became the oldest Indian to reach the top of Mount Elbrus at the age of 59.
