Rescue teams on duty in Himlung Himal, standing at 7,126 meters, recovered two bodies following a heavy avalanche at the base camp in the Narpa Bhumi area of Manang district early Sunday morning.
As reported by Manang Chief District Officer Mukti Prasad Khanal, a high-altitude helicopter team transported the deceased to the district headquarters in Chame by Sunday afternoon. The victims were identified as climbing guides from the team at the base camp.
The search operations were halted for the evening due to diminishing light and harsh weather at the high-altitude location. “Two bodies have arrived by helicopter. We cannot continue the search and rescue efforts today as it is already dark. Operations will restart tomorrow morning,” stated Mukti Prasad Khanal.
An eight-member specialized search team, comprised of seasoned international mountain guides from the Nepal National Mountain Guides Association and high-altitude rescue personnel, was dispatched from Kathmandu via Prabhu helicopter to enhance the emergency response.
Rescue efforts are further challenged by severe local weather and natural hazards in the region. Besides the avalanche, heavy rains have caused flash floods along the Thado Khola, damaging trails and severely disrupting telecommunications and power lines in Manang. Debris from these floods temporarily blocked the Marsyangdi River near Chame.
Assistant Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Poudel confirmed that while warning sirens along the Marsyangdi River have been activated, there is currently no immediate threat of an outburst flood to communities downstream.