Who is Rohtash Khileri? First Man to Achieve Record-Breaking 24 Hours on Mount Elbrus

On January 21, 2026, a Haryana mountaineer Rohtash Khileri became the first to spend 24 consecutive hours on Mount Elbrus, the highest point in Europe, 5,642 meters, without utilising supplemental oxygen, making a world record. 

He is a son of a farming family in Mallapur village and is an example of surviving under extreme hypoxia conditions. 

Rohtash Khileri was born May 14, 1996 in Jakhod Khera, Haryana, in a small family of Subhash Chander Bishnoi and Bansi Devi. Being one of the representatives of the Bishnoi community, he subscribes to 29 rules that focus on environmental protection and vegetarianism, which influence his ethical climbing. 

Initial sporting activities in wrestling, boxing and taekwondo changed to mountaineering activities following the observation of Himalayan mountain peaks in 2014.

Rohtash Khileri Mountaineering Journey

WORLD RECORD | First human to stay 24 hours on Europe’s highest peak — without oxygen. 🚩

“24 Hours on the Top of Europe! 🏔️❄️”

Ye post likhna aasaan nahi hai…

kyunki isme 8 saal ka dard, intezaar aur ek pagalpan bhara sapna juda hai. Aaj main duniya ka pehla insaan bana,… pic.twitter.com/jSVSMXip3k

— Bishnoi (@rohtashkhileri) January 20, 2026

After overcoming rejections and financial barriers, Khileri was trained in Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering in Pahalgam (2017) and Nehru Institute in Darjeeling. 

He used land that his father mortgaged to finance his 2018 Everest trip, in which he reached the summit on May 16 and did not have any difficulties with oxygen but assisted another climber. 

In Himachal Pradesh he has accomplished such heights as Kilimanjaro (24-hour stay record, first person), Elbrus (summer 2018, winter 2020 first Indian) and others.

Rohtash Khileri’s Record Feat

Hiker Khileri spent 24 hours on the peak of Mount Elbrus (the Caucasus of Russia) in thin air (reduced to half its level of oxygen in the sea) with his teeth, cold, and the wind, pushing physiological boundaries such as red blood cell surge and energy storage. 

In contrast to the short summits, long exposure would lead to a judgment failure and collapse due to hypoxia; he managed to succeed alone after 8 years of chasing. Scientists consider it to be the development of high-altitude physiology in space and polar studies.

Significance of this Achievement

The success is more successful than other preceding Elbrus accommodation, which indicates the adaptability of humans in the death areas, above 5,000m where lungs and cardiovascular organs become progressively tougher with age. 

Being the first mountaineer in Haryana, it motivates the young generation making it clear that discipline is better than resources. Khileri acknowledges his fans and posts on social media, and he is all about motivation even after being frostbitten before.

Rohtash Khileri’s Achievements 

• First Indian on Everest (2018, 8,848m)

• First 24-hours on Kilimanjaro (5,895m)

• First Indian Elbrus winter/summer summits.

• Friendship Peak solo (5,286m, 2020).

• Online nomination recommended (2021) as Tenzing Norgay Award.

The 24 hour stay on Mount Elbrus oxygen-free by Rohtash Khileri is a milestone in the human perseverance and power of Indian mountaineering. 

Not only does this record breaking act encourage young people all over the world to challenge physiological limits with hard work and determination, but the challenge is taken with a lot of discipline and hardwork just like Netaji was once celebrated as a hero on Parakram Diwas.

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