In a shocking case, Mount Everest guides allegedly laced the food of climbers to make them sick and trigger fake rescues, leading to insurance claims worth ₹185 crore.
According to a report by Kathmandu Post, authorities have charged 32 individuals in the case, with nine arrested and the rest on the run.
The scam involved guides exploiting the system by calling for helicopter rescues during medical emergencies, which were then followed by insurance claims.
Two methods were allegedly used: scaring travellers with symptoms of altitude sickness or lacing their food with Diamox tablets to trigger symptoms.
Willing climbers who didn't want to walk back were given the option to pretend to be sick, and fake manifests and load sheets were created to justify full-price invoices to insurance carriers.
Medical officers allegedly fabricated discharge summaries and used digital signatures of senior doctors, while some 'patients' were found consuming beer in the hospital cafeteria.
The CIB investigation found that the groups involved obtained at least $19.69 million in insurance payouts.
The investigation began after a citizen group filed a complaint in September 2025, and authorities say the scam continued due to lax punitive action.
