In brief
An avalanche struck a climbing group at the base camp of Himlung Himal in Nepal’s Manang district, and rescuers have recovered two bodies. A dozen climbers and support staff are still missing. Heavy snowfall and severe weather have stalled rescue operations, with helicopters unable to reach the site initially. The tragedy follows earlier mountain disasters in the region and raises concerns for Nepal’s climbing tourism amid rising avalanche risk.
Rescue crews recovered two bodies from an avalanche that struck the base camp of Himlung Himal in Nepal’s Manang district. A dozen climbers and support staff are still missing.
The 7,126‑metre peak sits on the Nepal–Tibet border. The avalanche hit the camp early Sunday, the same group that had been preparing the site for foreign climbers.
Heavy snowfall had been forecast around the mountain in recent days, and rough weather has prevented helicopters and ground teams from reaching the site.
Bibhuti Chand Thakur of Himalaya Holidays Trekking said at least eight members of his expedition were missing, though the total unaccounted for remains unclear.
A team of experienced mountaineers was dropped in from Kathmandu by helicopter. They are expected to resume the search on Monday, hampered by deep snow.
The incident comes less than two months after six climbers died on Pakistan’s Broad Peak, including famed British‑Nepali guide Nirmal Purja. It also follows a massive flood and landslide in August that left more than 6,000 people missing on the Nepal‑Tibet border.
Authorities are urging climbers to postpone ascents during the ongoing avalanche warning season, while the international climbing community watches the situation closely.
