A Parachute Regiment team scaled Nanda Devi in 1981 when they attempted both main and east peaks simultaneously. The southwest face of Nanda Devi East was climbed for the first time, but both climbers, Premjit Lal and Phu Dorjee, were killed in the descent. Three others - Daya Chand, Ram Singh, and Lakha Singh - also fell to their deaths, leading to the highest ever number of casualties on the mountain.