Archive · 21 Nov 2025
West Bengal Customs Officer Dies During Goechala Trek in West Sikkim
A 38-year-old customs officer from West Bengal, Suman Debnath, died during a trek in West Sikkim.
He started feeling very sick at high altitude and couldn't be saved.
It took a long time to bring his body back because the area was hard to reach.
38-year-old customs officer Suman Debnath died while trekking in West Sikkim
Debnath experienced severe headache, nausea, fatigue, and breathlessness before losing consciousness
He died at Phedang, around 25 km from Yuksom at an altitude of around 12,000 feet
Rescue personnel took almost a day to retrieve the body due to challenging terrain and high altitude
Debnath's body was transported to Gyalshing District Hospital for post-mortem examination
- Who
- Suman Debnath, a 38-year-old customs officer from West Bengal
- What
- died during a trek in West Sikkim
- When
- on the intervening night of November 18 and 19
- Where
- along the Goechala route in West Sikkim, at Phedang, around 25 km from Yuksom at an altitude of around 12,000 feet
- Why
- due to severe headache, nausea, fatigue, and breathlessness at high altitude
- Age
- 38 years old
- Occupation
- Customs Officer, CGST and Customs, West Bengal
- Location of Death
- Phedang, West Sikkim
- Altitude
- Around 12,000 feet
- Date of Death
- November 18-19, 2022
