KATHMANDU (Nov 4): At least nine climbers, including two Nepali mountain guides, were killed in two separate avalanches in Nepal, officials confirmed on Tuesday, marking one of the deadliest mountaineering tragedies of the season.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Gyan Kumar Mahato, seven climbers were buried in an avalanche near Mt. Yalung Ri (6,920 metres) under the Gaurishanker Rural Municipality at around 10 a.m. on Monday while attempting to scale the peak.
A joint rescue mission involving local authorities, the Nepal Army, and rescue volunteers has been deployed to recover the bodies of the seven climbers. “We have mobilised all available resources for retrieval operations,” Mahato said, adding that adverse weather continues to hamper the mission.
In a separate incident, two climbers, including a Nepali guide, died following an avalanche in the Manaslu region of western Nepal, where several expeditions are currently underway.
Nepal’s Department of Tourism confirmed that all expeditions in both regions have been temporarily suspended until conditions improve. Officials warned of an increased risk of avalanches due to recent heavy snowfall and shifting weather patterns.
Avalanches and sudden weather changes are common hazards during Nepal’s autumn climbing season, when hundreds of domestic and foreign mountaineers attempt to summit the Himalayan peaks.