Avalanche Strikes Himlung Himal Base Camp as Nepal Faces Dangerous Weather
Goldlaner.com – Rescue efforts are under way in central Nepal after an avalanche swept through a base camp on Himlung Himal, killing at least four people and leaving several others unaccounted for as severe weather affects parts of the Himalayan country.
The incident struck a remote camp where a support team was preparing for an upcoming climbing expedition. Sherpas, kitchen workers and other crew members had been establishing tents, arranging supplies and securing climbing ropes ahead of the planned arrival of a group from the United Arab Emirates on October 1.
Instead, a mass of snow and rock came down the mountainside and hit the camp. Four bodies had been recovered by Monday local time, while search teams continued looking for those missing, the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association said in a Facebook post.
Support Crew Had Reached the Camp Earlier This Month
Himlung Himal rises to 7,126 meters, or about 23,000 feet, in a region near Nepal’s border with China. The mountain lies within an area connected to the Annapurna and Manaslu conservation zones, which include some of the country’s best-known trekking and mountaineering routes.
The expedition’s support crew arrived safely at base camp on September 18 carrying food, mountaineering equipment and other essential materials. Their work included preparing the camp for climbers, monitoring conditions higher on the mountain, setting up a kitchen and placing ropes for the ascent.
At least six Nepalis who were at the camp remained missing, said Barun Bhandari, general manager of Himalayan Holidays, the company arranging the expedition. The number had not yet been fully confirmed because of poor access and difficult communication with the isolated location.
“We are very devastated.”
“We heard this morning that six or seven of our crew is missing but we are yet to confirm the exact number.”
Bhandari said the avalanche was particularly startling because the base camp sits on relatively level ground, rather than on a steep exposed slope.
“This is the first time we have had an avalanche like this in this exact area.”
“The ground is very flat at the base camp so we are quite surprised. But you never know, the mountain is unpredictable.”
Heavy Rain Complicates Rescue Access
Organizers are working with Nepal’s tourism board to establish exactly how many people were caught up in the disaster and to arrange helicopter assistance. Persistent rainfall, however, has made conditions more difficult and limited contact with people near the mountain.
Mountain rescue operations in Nepal can be especially challenging when weather closes in. Base camps are often far from roads and routine communications networks, meaning teams may depend on air access when terrain, rain or snow prevent travel on foot. In this case, the remoteness of Himlung Himal has added uncertainty as responders seek information from the site.
The avalanche came as authorities were already warning of hazardous weather in parts of Nepal. Heavy rainfall recently prompted the National Trust for Nature Conservation to halt entry permits for the Annapurna and Manaslu conservation areas from September 24 through September 26.
Those restrictions reflected the risks that intense rain can create in high-altitude terrain, where changing weather may affect trails, rivers, slopes and access routes. The Himlung Himal area is part of the wider mountain region affected by those concerns.
A Country Still Recovering From a Major Disaster
Nepal is also dealing with the consequences of a far larger catastrophe that occurred only weeks earlier near the Nepal-China border. A massive glacier collapse and landslide triggered destructive flooding there, killing at least 1,300 people and leaving more than 5,000 others missing.
That disaster underscored the vulnerability of mountain communities and travel routes when severe weather and unstable terrain combine. The latest avalanche is a separate event, but it has intensified concern during a period when Nepal is confronting both dangerous conditions and the disruption left by the earlier flooding.
Tourism remains an important part of Nepal’s economy, and the country has encouraged overseas visitors not to abandon travel plans despite the recent devastation. Trekking and climbing bring visitors to Himalayan regions each year, while local guides, porters, lodge workers, cooks and other support staff are central to making those journeys possible.
The Himlung Himal tragedy highlights the risks faced not only by climbers but also by the teams that prepare camps and maintain expedition routes before visitors arrive. Sherpas and other workers often carry equipment, establish shelters and assess mountain conditions well before an expedition begins its ascent.
For now, attention remains focused on confirming the missing, reaching the base camp safely and supporting the families and colleagues of those affected. Search operations were continuing as weather conditions remained a major obstacle in the high Himalayas.
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