Six Missing After Avalanche Strikes Himlung Himal Base Camp in Nepal
Search and rescue efforts are underway in Nepal after an avalanche hit the Himlung Himal base camp. Six people remain missing amid severe weather.
POLICY WIRE — Kathmandu, Nepal — At least six individuals are unaccounted for following a sudden avalanche that struck a base camp in a remote region of central Nepal. The incident occurred as support staff were preparing the site for an upcoming expedition.
The victims, identified as Sherpas and kitchen personnel, were establishing tents and securing ropes at the Himlung Himal base camp. They were preparing for the arrival of a climbing team from the United Arab Emirates, which was scheduled to reach the site on October 1, when a massive surge of snow and rock descended the slope.
Barun Bhandari, general manager of the expedition organizer Himalayan Holidays, confirmed that six Nepalis are currently missing. He expressed deep devastation regarding the event, noting that the base camp is situated on flat ground, making the scale of the avalanche unexpected. Bhandari stated, “We are very devastated,” adding, We heard this morning that six or seven of our crew is missing but we are yet to confirm the exact number. This is the first time we have had an avalanche like this in this exact area. The ground is very flat at the base camp so we are quite surprised. But you never know, the mountain is unpredictable.
📄 POLICY WIRE WHITEPAPER PUBLISHED: PAKISTAN’S NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY PRIORITIES
Renowned climber Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, who operates a separate expedition company on the mountain, reported that two of his own kitchen staff are among those missing. The crew had successfully arrived at the base camp on September 18 to transport supplies and prepare the route. Bhandari explained, “They have been there setting up tents, fixing ropes for the climb, monitoring the conditions on the mountain and setting up the kitchen.”
Rescue operations are currently hampered by persistent heavy rainfall and poor communication infrastructure in the remote area. Organizers are coordinating with the Nepal Tourism Board to deploy a rescue helicopter as soon as conditions permit.
This incident follows a period of extreme weather across the Himalayan nation, including a recent glacier collapse near the Nepal-China border that resulted in significant casualties. While authorities have suspended entry permits for the Annapurna and Manaslu conservation areas due to dangerous conditions, the government continues to encourage international tourism despite the ongoing climate challenges.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)