World · India Bureau
Death toll from Nepal avalanche climbs to 15 at Himlung Himal
An avalanche has struck the base camp of Nepal's Himlung Himal peak, killing at least 15 people including mountaineers and support staff. The disaster occurred at the 7,126-metre peak located in the remote Nar Phu area of Manang district.
LSN India ·
The avalanche descended on the base camp of Himlung Himal, one of Nepal's challenging high-altitude peaks, burying tents occupied by climbers and their support personnel. Rescue teams have been mobilised to the site in the Nar Phu region, which lies in the northern reaches of Manang district, to search for survivors and recover bodies.
The remote location of the base camp has complicated rescue efforts, with teams facing challenging terrain and weather conditions typical of high-altitude mountaineering zones. The avalanche struck with little warning, leaving limited time for those at the camp to seek shelter from the cascading snow and ice.
Himlung Himal attracts mountaineers from around the world seeking to summit peaks in Nepal's Himalayan ranges. The incident underscores the inherent dangers of high-altitude climbing, where natural hazards such as avalanches pose constant risks to expeditions, regardless of the experience level of climbers and guides.
Nepal's tourism and mountaineering authorities have not yet issued formal statements regarding the cause of the avalanche or whether climbing permits for the peak will be suspended pending investigation. The deaths mark another tragedy in Nepal's mountaineering community this season.