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Himalayas Blizzard and Avalanche Kill at Least 20 and Leave Dozens Missing Himalayas Blizzard and Avalanche Kill at Least 20 and Leave Dozens Missing
(about 2 hours later)
KATMANDU, Nepal — A blizzard and avalanche in Nepal’s storied Himalayas climbing region have killed at least 20 people, nearly half of them foreigners, in the midst of the October trekking season, district officials said Wednesday. Dozens were reported missing.KATMANDU, Nepal — A blizzard and avalanche in Nepal’s storied Himalayas climbing region have killed at least 20 people, nearly half of them foreigners, in the midst of the October trekking season, district officials said Wednesday. Dozens were reported missing.
The death toll eclipsed the last major mountaineering disaster in the Himalayas, when 16 Sherpas died in an avalanche six months ago on Mount Everest, the worst climbing calamity in Everest’s history.The death toll eclipsed the last major mountaineering disaster in the Himalayas, when 16 Sherpas died in an avalanche six months ago on Mount Everest, the worst climbing calamity in Everest’s history.
Officials said as many as 100 trekkers were caught by the latest weather, which began bearing down on the Himalayas on Tuesday, part of the stormy aftermath of a cyclone that ravaged India’s eastern coast two days earlier. It was believed that as many as 200 trekkers were caught by the latest weather, which began bearing down on the Himalayas on Tuesday, part of the stormy aftermath of a cyclone that ravaged India’s eastern coast two days earlier.
While dozens of trekkers and others were rescued on Wednesday, heavy accumulations of snow — more than two feet in some areas — forced the Nepal Army and the police to suspend further rescue actions until Thursday.While dozens of trekkers and others were rescued on Wednesday, heavy accumulations of snow — more than two feet in some areas — forced the Nepal Army and the police to suspend further rescue actions until Thursday.
The army, guided by trekkers that they had rescued, recovered 12 trekkers’ bodies near Thorong La, a pass along a popular trekking circuit, at a height of about 13,000 feet, according to the Mustang chief district officer, Baburam Bhandari. The dead included two Israeli tourists and two Poles, as well as eight Nepali trekkers who were trapped in a blizzard. The army, guided by trekkers that they had rescued, recovered 12 trekkers’ bodies near Thorong La, a pass along a popular trekking circuit, according to the Mustang chief district officer, Baburam Bhandari. The dead included two Israeli tourists and two Poles, as well as eight Nepali trekkers who were trapped in a blizzard.
In Manang district, four Canadians and one Indian trekker were buried in an avalanche along the mountain pass. Their bodies will take days to dig out of the snow, said Devendra Lamichhane, the chief district officer in Manang.In Manang district, four Canadians and one Indian trekker were buried in an avalanche along the mountain pass. Their bodies will take days to dig out of the snow, said Devendra Lamichhane, the chief district officer in Manang.
Basant B. Hamal, the secretary general of the Himalayan Rescue Association Nepal, a nonprofit group that promotes safe mountaineering, said there might have been up to 200 trekkers making their way Tuesday afternoon from the peak of Thorong La, which is at nearly 18,000 feet, to the Muktinath temple, at about 12,000 feet, when the storm hit.
Some trekkers were able to scramble down to safety at a tea stall nearby. Many were injured in the descent, while others were unable to escape the storm.
Mr. Hamal said that the communication lines were down in much of the region because of the weather, but that he had managed to contact the temple on Tuesday, and was told that many trekkers had been arriving there with broken bones.
In the same district, the bodies of three yak herders who disappeared on Monday, swept away in a separate avalanche, were found, but rescuers were unable to recover them on Wednesday.In the same district, the bodies of three yak herders who disappeared on Monday, swept away in a separate avalanche, were found, but rescuers were unable to recover them on Wednesday.
October is one of the most popular trekking months in Nepal, when thousands often visit because the weather is usually ideal for hiking. Mountaineering tourism is one of the most important economic drivers for impoverished Nepal.October is one of the most popular trekking months in Nepal, when thousands often visit because the weather is usually ideal for hiking. Mountaineering tourism is one of the most important economic drivers for impoverished Nepal.
The April disaster on Everest, the world’s highest mountain, led to threats by Sherpas to stop working because of the dangers and caused widespread cancellations of trekking expeditions.The April disaster on Everest, the world’s highest mountain, led to threats by Sherpas to stop working because of the dangers and caused widespread cancellations of trekking expeditions.