Nepal avalanche: 10 missing after Himlung Himal base camp buried under snow

Kathmandu: At least 10 people are missing after an avalanche swept through the base camp of Himlung Himal in Nepal's Manang district early Sunday, with rescue teams preparing to reach the remote mountain area as weather conditions remain difficult.

The avalanche struck the base camp of the 7,126-metre Himlung Himal in the Nar Phu region, burying tents where expedition personnel were staying.

The missing people are associated with two expedition operators, according to officials and expedition organisers.

Rishi Bhandari, general secretary of the Expedition Operators Association Nepal, confirmed that 10 people were unaccounted for. Eight are associated with Himalayan Holidays Nepal, while two are from Imagine Nepal.

The Himalayan Times reported that the missing personnel include eight support staff from Himalayan Holidays Nepal and two kitchen staff from Imagine Nepal Treks.

It said contact was lost after the avalanche buried tents at the base camp.

Rescue team prepares to reach avalanche-hit base camp

A search and rescue effort is now being prepared, although access to the area remains dependent on weather conditions.

According to The Tourism Times, an eight-member team of IFMGA/NNMGA international mountain guides is waiting at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport to fly towards Himlung Himal in two helicopters once the weather allows.

The team is also seeking the necessary government permissions for the operation.

Mingma G, managing director of Imagine Nepal Treks, said the rescue team was ready to move towards the base camp.

Information from the mountain indicated that the avalanche struck while expedition support staff were inside their tents.

Other support personnel at the base camp were reported to be safe and were involved in ground-level search efforts.

The situation is complicated by unstable communications in the remote mountain region.

Himalayan Holidays chairman Bibhu Chand Thakur said the company's expedition leader at the site had briefly contacted the Kathmandu office and requested immediate rescue assistance.

Heavy snowfall and rain raise avalanche risk

The avalanche occurred amid severe weather across Nepal's mountainous areas, with persistent rain and heavy snowfall increasing the risk of avalanches and disrupting movement in several parts of the country.

Expedition teams and rope-fixing crews had reportedly moved away from the mountain slopes after weather warnings were issued last week.

Several climbers had also retreated from the area following days of heavy snowfall.

The Department of Tourism is monitoring the incident and gathering further information, while efforts are being made to locate the missing personnel.

Himlung Himal rises to 7,126 metres in Manang's remote Nar Phu region near the Tibet border and is a popular destination for high-altitude expeditions.

Reaching the mountain by helicopter also involves additional permissions, adding another logistical challenge to any rescue operation.

With weather conditions continuing to affect the region, rescuers are waiting for a safe window to reach the avalanche-hit base camp. The identities and condition of the 10 missing people had not been officially confirmed in the latest reports available.