Himlung avalanche: four dead, twelve still missing

On 27 September an avalanche buried Himlung Himal base camp (7,126 m) in Manang district. About four metres of snow covered 16 expedition staff: 14 kitchen workers and two mountain guides.

Volunteers from the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association recovered four bodies. Guides Chhebi Bhote and Pasang Bhote were found on Sunday, and Birendra Gurung and Ghan Shyam Rai on Monday. Twelve kitchen workers are still missing. Search leader Mingma G. Sherpa said no one was left alive on the ground they had dug out. On 28 September the work stopped: freezing temperatures and unstable snow made digging by hand too dangerous. The association will return for the remaining bodies when the mountain allows it.

The same snow and rain turned trekkers around in Manang, short of Thorong La.