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Indian-origin techie dies in Washington climbing accident
Vishnu Irigireddy, a 48-year-old based in Seattle, died while climbing in the North Cascades of Washington state.
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Malvika Choudhary - Thu, 15, May 2025
- 12:23 EDT
- 98
Vishnu Irigireddy / LinkedIn
An Indian-origin tech executive was among three climbers killed in a tragic mountaineering accident on May 10.
Vishnu Irigireddy (48) from Seattle died while climbing in the North Cascades of Washington state. The incident occurred on the Early Winter Couloir route of the North Early Winters Spire, a granite peak popular among experienced climbers.
Also Read: Fall kills Indian-origin student during university trip
The group — comprising Irigireddy, Tim Nguyen (63), Oleksander Martynenko (36), and Anton Tselykh (38) — was retreating due to an approaching storm when their rappel anchor reportedly failed, leading to a catastrophic 400-foot fall.
According to the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office, the team fell approximately 200 feet in a near-vertical drop and then tumbled another 200 feet down a rocky, snow-covered chute. All four climbers were tied into the same rope system.
Authorities believe the group’s rope was anchored to a single, weathered piton that gave way. It remains unclear whether any backup protection was in place.
A Snohomish County helicopter rescue team recovered the bodies of the deceased climbers except Tselykh. A coroner's report confirmed that all three had died from severe head trauma and multiple fractures.
Irigireddy was vice president of engineering at Fluke Corporation and earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (1994–1998).
A cremation ceremony was scheduled for May 15. His family has requested donations to two non-profit organizations in his memory, honoring his lifelong passion for climbing and giving back to the community.
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