Four bodies recovered from Himlung avalanche in Nepal
Search teams continue operation as rescuers recover two more bodies from buried base camp
PC: NNMGA
Four bodies have been recovered from the site of an avalanche that struck the base camp of Himlung Himal in western Nepal, the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association said Monday.
The bodies of Chhebi Bhote and Pasang Bhote were recovered on Sunday, followed by those of Birendra Gurung and Ghan Shyam Rai on Monday, the association said.
The avalanche swept through the Himlung base camp, burying much of the site under several metres of snow and debris.
The NNMGA launched a search and recovery operation on Sunday, with a team of eight IFMGA-certified mountain guides reaching the base camp and beginning to dig through the debris.
Rescuers said the chances of finding survivors were diminishing because of the condition of the buried camp.
Fourteen kitchen staff and two climbing guides were reported missing after the avalanche.
The search team was working at an altitude of about 4,900 metres to locate the missing people and recover bodies, the NNMGA said.
The team includes Mingma G Sherpa, known as Mingma G, Pasang Kaji Sherpa, Pimba Tenzing Bhote, Ashish Gurung, Tsering Pemba Sherpa, Bikram Karki, Dandu Sherpa and Pasang Rinzi Sherpa.
The NNMGA said its team would continue searching for another three to four hours on Monday, weather and conditions permitting.
The association said it would continue the operation until the search and recovery mission was completed.
Heavy rain and snowfall have disrupted mountaineering expeditions across Nepal's high mountains, forcing several expeditions in the Manaslu and Dhaulagiri regions to be cancelled or suspended.
In the Himlung region, a rope-fixing team was deployed last week to prepare the climbing route, but adverse weather has delayed its progress. The team had reached only beyond Chame, the headquarters of Manang district, according to expedition officials.
Himlung Himal rises to 7,126 metres and is one of Nepal's popular expedition peaks in the Manaslu region.
