India, May 16 -- An Indian climber and another from the Philippines died on Mount Everest, marking the first fatalities in the current March-May climbing season of the world's highest peak, media reports said on Friday.

Subrata Ghosh, 45, who hailed from West Bengal, died on Thursday below the Hillary Step while returning after reaching the 8,849 metres (29,032 feet) peak.

The Hillary Step is located in the 'death zone', which is an area between the 8,000-metre (26,250 ft) high South Col and the summit where the level of natural oxygen is scarce.

"Efforts are underway to bring his body down to the base camp. The cause of his death will be known only after post-mortem," Bhandari said.

Santiago and Ghose were both members of an internat...