On Sunday, at least ten (10) Nepali climbers who were gearing up to guide an expedition are missing after a base camp was struck by an Avalanche in the Himalayas.
The local guides were at a staging point near to the Himlung Himal peak in Manang district when the avalanche hit in the morning of Sunday, the organisers of the climb revealed.
According to forecasts, in recent days, there was heavy snowfall around the 7,126 metre (23,380ft) peak, which lies on the border of Nepal with Tibet.
Rescue operations have suffered negatively due to poor weather, making it difficult for helicopters and rescue teams to reach the site.
More than “eight” members of the expedition team are missing, according to an official.
Speaking to AFP News Agency, Bibhuti Chand Thakur, of Himalaya Holidays Trekking, said: “Eight members of our expedition team and two more from another company have been reported missing.”
The Nepali team had been deployed to prepare the camp ahead of the foreign climbers, as well as, to ensure the routes are properly managed, and fix ropes on the mountain.
Mountain districts of Nepal have experienced consistent rain and snow in recent days which has brought about dangerous conditions for the country’s climbing tourism industry, which is important for its economy.
Climbers were forced to leave the eighth highest peak in the world, Mount Manaslu, earlier this year as a result of heightening threats of avalanches.
The Himlung Himal Mountain
According to Black Mountaineering, the Himlung Himal Mountain rises at “7,126 metres”.
On the location of the Mountain, it says: “Standing at 7,126 metres in Nepal’s Nar-Phu Valley, close to the Tibetan border within the Manaslu Conservation Area, Himlung Himal sits in one of the most isolated and culturally intact corridors in the entire Himalaya.
“Ancient Tibetan trade routes define the approach.
“Buddhist monasteries preserved by centuries of remoteness line the valley. Tibetan villages rarely touched by mainstream trekking mark the way to Base Camp.”
It warns, the Mountain is a “wilderness” and demands “preparation” before climbing.
It says: “This is not a mountain surrounded by expedition infrastructure and tourist facilities. It is a genuine wilderness objective that demands respect, preparation, and commitment from the first day of the approach.”
