Two bodies discovered following avalanche at Himlung Himal base camp in Nepal
Search teams recover two bodies after a devastating avalanche hit the Himlung Himal base camp in Nepal's Manang district.
A tragic avalanche at the Himlung Himal base camp in Nepal's Manang district has claimed at least two lives, according to official reports. Search and rescue teams dispatched to the high-altitude site have confirmed the recovery of two deceased individuals following the disaster.
Tragedy at high altitude
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), through the Nepal Police headquarters, verified the discovery of the bodies via a social media update. The incident occurred at the base camp of the 7,126-metre Himlung Himal peak, a destination frequently sought by climbers looking to gain high-altitude experience.
The situation remains critical as expedition organisers have indicated that at least 10 people were reported missing after the snow slide struck. Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, an expedition organiser, confirmed that two members of his kitchen staff were among those unaccounted for. He noted that the avalanche struck on Sunday morning.
Weather warnings ignored
The disaster follows a period of intense weather instability in the region. According to Sherpa, while many expedition and rope-fixing teams had already evacuated the slopes due to a weather warning issued the previous week, some individuals chose to remain at the camp.
The mountain region had been experiencing heavy snowfall for several days, which had already forced many climbers to abandon their autumn ascents. The difficulty of rescue operations is further compounded by the fact that Himlung Himal requires special permits for helicopter flights, complicating access to the remote location.
Nepal gripped by extreme weather
The avalanche is part of a wider pattern of severe weather currently battering Nepal. A weather system over the Bay of Bengal has triggered heavy snowfall in the mountains and persistent, heavy rainfall across the hills and plains of the country.
The impact of these conditions has been widespread:
- Fatalities: Relentless rainfall since Thursday has resulted in at least 14 deaths across the nation.
- Landslides: Separate landslide incidents in the Myagdi and Baglung districts have claimed several more lives, with the Kaligandaki River sweeping away houses and bridges.
- Flooding: The Narayani River has breached the 9-metre warning level, inundating settlements in Central Nepal and prompting evacuation orders.
- Infrastructure: Major highways, including those leading to Chitwan, are blocked due to landslides, disrupting national connectivity.
Tourism authorities have issued urgent alerts, advising trekkers and climbers to suspend all activities as conditions continue to deteriorate. This latest wave of natural disasters follows closely on the heels of the Bhotekoshi Floods, which caused massive loss of life and left thousands missing just a month ago.