KATHMANDU: Two people have died and 14 Nepali high-altitude workers remain missing after an avalanche struck the base camp of Himlung Himal in Nepal’s Manang district, with rescuers now searching the remote site for survivors.
The avalanche hit the 7,126-metre Himlung Himal in the Nar Phu region on Sunday, September 27, after days of heavy rain and snowfall affected Nepal’s high mountain areas. The affected group was made up of Nepali expedition workers preparing the mountain for the climbing season.
A 14-member rescue team led by international mountain guide Mingma G Sherpa has reached the base camp and begun searching for the missing workers and guides. The bodies of two people recovered after the avalanche were being transported from Chame to Kathmandu on Monday.
Rescue operation continues in difficult conditions
The search follows an earlier attempt to reach the mountain that was hindered by poor weather. Helicopters and experienced mountain guides had been placed on standby, but adverse conditions made access to the remote base camp difficult.
According to the Kathmandu Post, more than two dozen Nepali workers and guides from Himalayan Holidays and Imagine Nepal Trek and Expedition had travelled to Himlung roughly two weeks before the incident. Their work included preparing the base camp and climbing route ahead of the autumn season.
The number of people reported missing changed as information came in from the remote site. Initial reports on Sunday put the number at 10, before updated information from expedition organisers and mountain authorities raised it to 14. Two additional people who had initially been listed among the missing were later confirmed dead.
The Nepal National Mountain Guide Association said the two recovered victims were climbing guides. Their identities were initially not confirmed in the first reports, while later reports identified them as Pasang Bhote and Chhebi Bhote.
UAE climbing group was due to arrive
The incident has a direct connection to a planned expedition involving a UAE climbing group.
The Nepali support teams were preparing the Himlung base camp for a 14-member all-women group from a climbing school in the UAE, which was scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu on October 1, according to reports citing the Nepal Department of Tourism and expedition organisers.
The foreign climbers had not yet reached Himlung when the avalanche struck. Earlier reporting from the Kathmandu Post said the Nepali crew had been sent ahead to prepare the camp, manage the route and undertake other logistical work before the foreign clients arrived.
This distinction is important: the people currently missing are Nepali expedition workers and guides, rather than members of the UAE climbing group.
Himlung Himal and the risks of high-altitude climbing
Himlung Himal rises to 7,126 metres in Nepal’s Nar Phu region near the Tibetan border. The mountain is used by climbers seeking experience at elevations above 6,000 metres and forms part of Nepal’s high-altitude mountaineering sector.
The avalanche occurred during a period of persistent rain and snowfall across Nepal’s mountain districts. Weather conditions have affected transport, trekking routes and mountaineering activity in several areas, adding to the difficulties faced by rescue teams.
For rescuers working at altitude, the combination of unstable snow, difficult terrain, limited communications and rapidly changing weather can make reaching an avalanche site particularly challenging.
The current operation is focused on locating the 14 missing workers. The rescue team has reached the base camp, but officials and expedition operators continue to face difficult conditions as the search progresses.
What happened at Himlung Himal?
An avalanche struck the Himlung Himal base camp in Nepal’s Manang district on September 27, killing two people and leaving 14 Nepali high-altitude workers missing.
Where did the avalanche occur?
It occurred at the base camp of Himlung Himal, a 7,126-metre mountain in Nepal’s Nar Phu region of Manang district.
How many people are missing?
As of September 28, 14 Nepali workers and guides remain missing, according to the latest Kathmandu Post report.
How many people have died?
Two people have been confirmed dead after their bodies were recovered from the avalanche site. Reports identified them as climbing guides.
Are UAE climbers among those missing?
No. The missing people are Nepali expedition workers and guides. A 14-member all-women climbing group from a UAE climbing school was due to arrive later and had not yet reached the mountain when the avalanche occurred.
Is the rescue operation continuing?
Yes. A 14-member rescue team has reached the base camp and is searching for the missing workers. Difficult weather and mountain conditions are complicating the operation.
What caused the avalanche?
The avalanche occurred after several days of heavy rain and snowfall in Nepal’s high mountain areas. Reports have linked the incident to the severe weather, but a definitive technical cause has not been independently established in the sources reviewed.
Where is Himlung Himal?
Himlung Himal is a 7,126-metre peak in Nepal’s Nar Phu region of Manang district, close to the Tibetan border.
