Subham Chatterjee, popularly known in mountaineering circles as Mountaineer Ronnie, successfully summited Mount Manaslu, the world’s eighth-highest peak at 8,163 meters, on September 28, 2025, at 6:18 am. The climber from Hooghly district, West Bengal, joins an elite group of mountaineers who have conquered one of the Himalayas’ most dangerous mountains.
Battling the ‘Death Zone’
Mount Manaslu, situated in Nepal’s Mansiri Himal range, is notorious for its high fatality rate of 18%, making it one of the deadliest peaks worldwide. The route between Camp 3 and Camp 4 alone takes over 10 hours, with climbers facing steep snow slopes and unstable glaciers.
During his ascent, Chatterjee narrowly escaped an avalanche at Camp 3, calling it a “moment of sheer terror” but praising the support and teamwork that helped him through.
A Record-Breaking Climber
This expedition is another step in Chatterjee’s mission to enter the Guinness Book of World Records. He is already listed in the World Book of Records, London, for completing the fastest double summit of Oceania’s two highest peaks in just 49 hours, a feat unmatched by any other climber.
Over the years, Chatterjee has scaled the highest peaks across Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, and Antarctica, establishing himself as one of India’s most promising mountaineers.
Guided by Legends
The Manaslu expedition was led by Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja, the renowned mountaineer who climbed all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks in record time, adding further prestige to the climb.
Homecoming in Hooghly
Returning to Hooghly just in time for Durga Puja, Chatterjee received a warm welcome from locals and fellow climbers. As a member of Climber’s Circle, one of Kolkata’s oldest mountaineering clubs, he hopes his journey will inspire young Indians to tackle challenges that may seem insurmountable.He reflected, “Mountains teach you resilience and humility. If you keep faith in your training and your team, no summit is too far.”
