Avalanche sweeps away climbers on Yalung Ri
Foreign mountaineers and their Nepali guides remain missing after an avalanche struck several expedition groups during their summit push on Yalung Ri. Authorities have not yet released the identities of those affected.
At least three climbers have died, and several others — including foreign mountaineers and Nepali guides — remain missing after an avalanche struck multiple expedition groups attempting to summit Yalung Ri in the Rolwaling region of Dolakha district on Monday morning, officials said.
According to local authorities, the avalanche hit a team of 12 climbers and guides during their summit push on Yalung Ri, a remote peak near the Tibet border. The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m.
Assistant Chief District Officer of Dolakha, Aaulakh Bahadur Ale, said the group included climbers from France, Canada, and Italy. “From what we know so far, at least three have died and several others are missing. A helicopter has been requested from Kathmandu to support search and rescue operations,” Ale told Everest Chronicle.
Officials said efforts are underway to locate the missing climbers, but poor weather and challenging terrain have hampered rescue operations. “We are still trying to confirm the condition of all members, but communication from the area is very limited,” Ale added.
Local residents from Na village said they had been seeking help since early morning, but rescue flights were delayed because the Rolwaling region falls under a restricted helicopter flight zone that requires special clearance.
The Rolwaling Valley, home to Sherpa communities and known for its steep, avalanche-prone slopes, lies between Gaurishankar and Melungtse peaks and remains one of Nepal’s least accessible mountain regions.
According to the Department of Tourism (DoT), three foreign climbers have obtained permits this autumn to climb Dolma Khang, an adjacent peak to Yalung Ri. However, the department said it has not issued any climbing permits for Yalung Ri itself.
The department reported that over 1,400 climbers have received permits to attempt various peaks during the ongoing autumn climbing season — Nepal’s second busiest after spring — earning the government around USD 1.3 million in royalties.
Nepal, home to eight of the world’s 14 peaks above 8,000 meters, has faced deteriorating mountain weather in recent days due to a cyclone system over India, affecting climbing conditions across several regions.
As of Monday evening, a rescue helicopter had been dispatched from Kathmandu, while a 50-member security team was deployed from Dolakha. Authorities said it could take more than a day for the ground rescue team to reach the site.
“Since no official rescue team has reached the area, we cannot confirm details of the incident. The information we have so far comes only from local villagers,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gyan Kumar Mahato.
This is a developing story. We will update it as more information becomes available.
