Two climbers have died and 12 people are missing after an avalanche hit Mount Himlung-Himal in the Nar-Phu area of Nepal's Manang district. The victims were preparing a high-altitude camp for the arrival of foreign tourists when they were caught in the snow slide, according to a report by British newspaper The Sun.
Emergency service personnel managed to evacuate the bodies of the two deceased climbers from the peak using a helicopter. Search operations remain underway on the mountain as emergency workers seek to track down the 12 individuals who are still unaccounted for.
Earlier reports stated that at least 14 people, all of whom are citizens of Nepal, were missing following the avalanche on Himlung-Himal. Rescuers have since recovered two bodies, leaving 12 workers missing in the area.
Mount Himlung-Himal location and geography
Mount Himlung-Himal is located in the Nepalese Himalayas near the border between Nepal and Tibet, situated in the remote Nar-Phu region of Manang district. The peak stands in the Peri Himal range, lying north of the Annapurna mountain massif.
Manang district is an alpine administrative zone in northern Nepal known for high mountain passes, trekking trails, and steep valleys. The area attracts international mountaineering teams attempting Himalayan peaks during the spring and autumn climbing seasons.
High-altitude camps are established by support crews to store supplies and provide shelter before climbers advance up mountain routes. Setting up these camps involves navigating steep snow slopes and exposed ridges where weather conditions can change rapidly and trigger slides.
Search operations and next steps
Helicopter evacuations are frequently used by Nepalese rescue services to reach remote locations above the tree line where ground travel is difficult or hazardous. Emergency teams rely on aerial support to transport personnel and recover victims from steep alpine terrain.
Search efforts for the 12 missing workers are continuing as emergency services monitor weather conditions and assess safety on Mount Himlung-Himal. Rescue crews are maintaining operations to locate any remaining survivors on the mountain.
