This is a moment of immense pride for India. Indian mountaineer Rohtash Khileri has achieved a feat unmatched by anyone else in the world. He has set a world record by spending a full 24 hours without oxygen on Mount Elbrus, Europe’s highest peak. He has become the first person to do so.
Mount Elbrus: Where the Weather Is Deadly
Mount Elbrus is located in the Caucasus Mountains of Russia. At 18,510 feet, it is not only the highest peak in Europe but also one of the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on all seven continents).
This mountain is known for its formidable glaciers, strong winds, and extremely low temperatures.
Achievement shared on social media
Rohtash Khileri announced this historic achievement in an emotional post on X (formerly Twitter). He explained that staying at the summit for 24 hours without oxygen wasn’t a sudden decision, but rather the culmination of eight years of hard work, pain, waiting, and passion.
He wrote, “World Record | First person to stay on Europe’s highest peak for 24 hours without oxygen. ’24 hours on top of Europe!’ This post is not easy to write, because behind it lies 8 years of pain, waiting and a crazy dream.”
Frozen alone in the deadly cold
Khileri explained that he climbed alone and stayed at the summit alone. No one was willing to stay with him in the bone-chilling cold. He wrote: “I climbed alone and stayed alone. No one was willing to stay with me in this bone-chilling cold.”
Extremely dangerous weather conditions
The weather on Mount Elbrus was extremely frightful at the time:
- Wind speed: 50–60 kmph
- Temperature: -40°C
- Wind chill: below -50°C
In such circumstances, surviving without oxygen is extraordinary in itself.
This wasn’t the first attempt
Rohtash Khileri explained that this wasn’t his first attempt. He had attempted the climb several times before 2018, but had to turn back due to bad weather or emergencies. Despite this, he didn’t give up.
“The mountain took the fingers, not the dream.”
This journey also came at a heavy price. He had suffered frostbite during an earlier attempt, resulting in the loss of two fingers. He wrote emotionally: “I lost two fingers to frostbite, but my dream did not.”
24-hour stay is the biggest test
Khileri said that staying at the summit for 24 hours was the toughest test of his life. He attributed this achievement to his training on Everest, years of hard work, and the support of his loved ones.
The tricolor hoisted from the summit
He also shared a video with his post, showing heavy snowfall, strong winds, and the Indian tricolor fluttering at the summit. In the video, he is seen descending, warning that the weather is about to worsen. His eyebrows and mustache are clearly visible, frozen with snow.
Pride and Respect on Social Media
The post received a tremendous response on social media. Thousands are praising his courage and spirit. One user wrote: “We salute your spirit and patience. Every Indian should be proud of you.” Another said: “Brother, the whole country is proud of you today.”
Growing achievements of Indians on Mount Elbrus
This achievement by Rohtash Khileri adds another golden chapter to the growing successes of Indians on Mount Elbrus:
- June 2025: 6-year-old Tegbir Singh from Punjab becomes the youngest person to summit Elbrus (age: 6 years 9 months 4 days)
- 2025: Narendra Yadav becomes the first Indian to climb Elbrus three times
- August 15, 2024: Ankit Malik hoisted the 78-meter-long Indian flag at the summit, the largest tricolor hoisted by a solo climber
- August 2021: Sharad Kulkarni from Maharashtra becomes the oldest Indian to climb Elbrus at the age of 59