Avalanche Claims Two Bodies, Leaves Dozens Missing on Himlung Himal

Mon Sep 28 2026 09:45:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A deadly avalanche struck a Nepalese climbing camp on Himlung Himal, recovering two bodies while leaving around a dozen people missing, authorities say.

A sheet of heavy snow pulverised the base‑camp of Himlung Himal in Nepal’s Manang district, killing at least two climbers and leaving a crew of about a dozen still missing. Rough weather hampered rescue teams, and a helicopter‑reached squad from Kathmandu is now combing the thick snow for survivors. The tragedy follows a spate of Himalayan avalanches that have rocked the region this year, including the loss of six climbers on Pakistan’s Broad Peak. Nepal’s mountaineering industry, already strained by recent floods, is once again under fire after the disaster.

Rescuers have recovered two bodies from the site of an avalanche that struck a climbing group camping in the Nepalese part of the Himalayas.

Around twelve people are still missing after a sheet of snow fell on the base‑camp of Himlung Himal, a 7,126‑metre peak on the border with Tibet. The group of Nepalese nationals—climbers and support staff—had been sent before foreign teams to prepare the camp and fix ropes.

Heavy snowfall had been forecast in recent days, and poor weather hampered helicopter access, leaving rescuers unable to reach the site immediately. Bibhuti Chand Thakur, of Himalaya Holidays Trekking, said that at least eight members of his team had been reported missing; the exact number remains unclear.

Helicopters carrying experienced mountaineers from Kathmandu surveyed the area earlier, but an ongoing blizzard and thick snow made continuous searching difficult. Efforts are continuing into Monday as conditions hold up the rescue mission.

The incident comes less than two months after six climbers lost their lives on Pakistan’s Broad Peak, including renowned British‑Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja. It also follows the fierce flood and landslide that left more than 6,000 people missing on the Nepal‑Tibet border in August.

Extreme weather has impacted other parts of Asia this week. In Uttar Pradesh, India, more than 50 people died during heavy storms, while Bangkok declared a flood emergency amid persistent rainfall. A deadly typhoon in Japan also triggered landslides that claimed four lives.

The mounting number of incidents highlights the growing risks for Himalayan climbers as climate change and unpredictable weather increasingly threaten the region’s tourism economy and safety.