Two climbing guides found dead after Himlung avalanche
Rescue team reaches avalanche site by helicopter as 14 kitchen staff remain unaccounted for
PC: Abiral Rai
Two climbing guides have been found dead after an avalanche struck the Himlung Himal base camp in western Nepal, while the search continues for 14 missing kitchen staff, expedition organisers said Sunday.
A total of 16 people — 14 kitchen staff and two climbing guides from different expedition companies — were reported missing after the avalanche.
The two guides have since been found dead, the organisers said.
The Nepal National Mountain Guides Association (NNMGA), which represents IFMGA-certified mountain guides, has initiated the search and rescue operation.
A rescue team led by high-altitude guide Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, known as Mingma G, reached the accident site by helicopter and began searching for the missing workers.
Mingma G is an IFMGA-certified guide with extensive high-altitude rescue experience. He was involved in the recovery of bodies following the Broad Peak avalanche in Pakistan in July, which killed 10 climbers, including Nirmal Purja, known as Nimsdai, and Kili Pemba Sherpa, known as Kilu.
The rescue team includes Pasang Kaji Sherpa, Ashish Gurung and Pemba Tsiring Sherpa.
“Four additional rescuers are waiting at the airport and are ready to fly to the base camp for search and rescue,” said Tul Singh Gurung, president of the NNMGA.
He said more rescuers were needed to expand the search.
“We can tell once the team reaches there and expands the search areas,” he said.
Gurung said rescuers remained hopeful that the missing workers would be found.
“We are hopeful they can be located soon,” he said.
The NNMGA's members include trained rescuers and experienced climbers with internationally recognised qualifications. Its members have also assisted with search and rescue operations following the Rasuwa floods, including efforts to recover people trapped inside hydropower tunnels.
