Nepal Avalanche at Himlung Himal Base Camp: At Least 10 Missing After Heavy Snowfall Triggers Disaster

At least 10 people are missing after an avalanche struck the base camp of Himlung Himal in Nepal’s Manang district on Sunday morning, expedition organisers said.

Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, an expedition organiser, confirmed that two members of his kitchen staff were among those unaccounted for. The missing people belong to different expedition companies.

“The avalanche hit on Sunday morning,” he said.

The incident followed several days of heavy snowfall that had disrupted autumn climbing plans on the 7,126-metre mountain near the Tibetan border.

Teams Had Withdrawn After Weather Warning

According to Sherpa, expedition and rope-fixing teams had evacuated the mountain slopes after a weather warning was issued last week, although some people remained.

Persistent snowfall had forced climbers to retreat from their planned ascents before the avalanche struck.

Himlung Himal is a popular destination for mountaineers seeking high-altitude experience. Access presents additional logistical challenges because helicopter flights to the area require a separate permit.

The initial account did not provide further details about the identities of those missing or the status of efforts to locate them.

Authorities Urge Suspension of Tourism Activities

The avalanche comes amid widespread weather disruption across Nepal. A weather system over the Bay of Bengal has brought heavy snowfall to mountain areas and continuing rain to the country’s hills and plains.

Adverse conditions since Friday have affected roads, prompting local authorities to close several stretches to traffic.

Tourism authorities have urged trekkers and climbers to suspend activities as conditions worsen. The Department of Tourism has also issued an alert advising that tourism activities be put on hold.

Continuing rain and snow have affected trekking routes and forced the cancellation or suspension of major expeditions on Manaslu and Dhaulagiri.

At Himlung Himal, the latest snowfall had already interrupted the climbing season and prompted teams to move away from the slopes. Sunday’s avalanche struck the base camp after those withdrawals, leaving staff from several expedition operators among the missing.

With inputs from ANI