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| Search widens for Nepal snowstorm survivors | Search widens for Nepal snowstorm survivors |
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| Rescuers in Nepal have reached the summit of the Himalayan pass where hundreds of trekkers were caught in a violent storm on Tuesday, as the search for survivors and victims widened to neighbouring valleys and peaks. | Rescuers in Nepal have reached the summit of the Himalayan pass where hundreds of trekkers were caught in a violent storm on Tuesday, as the search for survivors and victims widened to neighbouring valleys and peaks. |
| The death toll from the disaster now stands at 32, most of whom apparently were killed by exposure and avalanches as they tried to descend from the Thorong pass. The figure is expected to rise, with at least 10 trekkers and many local staff still missing. The dead include Canadian, Israeli, Polish, Indian, German and Nepali nationals. | The death toll from the disaster now stands at 32, most of whom apparently were killed by exposure and avalanches as they tried to descend from the Thorong pass. The figure is expected to rise, with at least 10 trekkers and many local staff still missing. The dead include Canadian, Israeli, Polish, Indian, German and Nepali nationals. |
| Forty-six trekkers trapped for 72 hours in a basic guesthouse at about 4,800m, 700m below the top of the pass, were rescued on Friday morning, after deep snow and poor weather on Thursday had slowed the search. | Forty-six trekkers trapped for 72 hours in a basic guesthouse at about 4,800m, 700m below the top of the pass, were rescued on Friday morning, after deep snow and poor weather on Thursday had slowed the search. |
| “The army have cleared the route at Thorong pass and evacuated 40 trekkers who [were able to] walk to [the nearest road] and rescued six others whose injuries meant they were not in condition to walk,” Nepal army spokesman Niranjan Shrestha said. | “The army have cleared the route at Thorong pass and evacuated 40 trekkers who [were able to] walk to [the nearest road] and rescued six others whose injuries meant they were not in condition to walk,” Nepal army spokesman Niranjan Shrestha said. |
| Small groups elsewhere in the Annapurna massif were reached on Friday afternoon by some of the dozens of private and army helicopters deployed to the area, 90 miles north-west of the capital, Kathmandu. These included four Italians who were rescued from their camp beneath Tukuche peak. | Small groups elsewhere in the Annapurna massif were reached on Friday afternoon by some of the dozens of private and army helicopters deployed to the area, 90 miles north-west of the capital, Kathmandu. These included four Italians who were rescued from their camp beneath Tukuche peak. |
| Samten Sherpa, from the guiding company Snow Leopard Trek, said dozens of foreign trekkers were still stranded at Tilicho lake, a picturesque hiking destination at 5,000m. No one has been able to contact them for two days, and he said only two small, basic hostels were at the lake. | Samten Sherpa, from the guiding company Snow Leopard Trek, said dozens of foreign trekkers were still stranded at Tilicho lake, a picturesque hiking destination at 5,000m. No one has been able to contact them for two days, and he said only two small, basic hostels were at the lake. |
| Survivors described scenes of chaos and terror as walkers and their guides tried to find shelter from tearing winds and thick snow. The Thorong pass is one of the final stages of the popular Annapurna circuit, a 200-mile route that circles the mountain. | Survivors described scenes of chaos and terror as walkers and their guides tried to find shelter from tearing winds and thick snow. The Thorong pass is one of the final stages of the popular Annapurna circuit, a 200-mile route that circles the mountain. |
| Nepal’s biggest mountains largely remain the preserve of experienced mountaineers with technical equipment and experience. However, the trekking industry attracts many more people, with thousands arriving in the Annapurna region every October when weather conditions are usually favourable for hiking. More than 110,000 foreign trekkers visited Annapurna in 2013, up from 106,000 in 2012. | Nepal’s biggest mountains largely remain the preserve of experienced mountaineers with technical equipment and experience. However, the trekking industry attracts many more people, with thousands arriving in the Annapurna region every October when weather conditions are usually favourable for hiking. More than 110,000 foreign trekkers visited Annapurna in 2013, up from 106,000 in 2012. |
| There is increasing criticism of authorities for failing to find ways to inform trekkers of impending bad weather. Tuesday’s storm was caused by the tail of a cyclone lashing northern India. | There is increasing criticism of authorities for failing to find ways to inform trekkers of impending bad weather. Tuesday’s storm was caused by the tail of a cyclone lashing northern India. |
| Paul Sheridan, a 49-year-old policeman from South Yorkshire who survived the storm and led a group to safety, said: “I heard about the cyclone and was told it meant bad weather. I raised it repeatedly with local guides and hotel staff and all said I shouldn’t worry.” | Paul Sheridan, a 49-year-old policeman from South Yorkshire who survived the storm and led a group to safety, said: “I heard about the cyclone and was told it meant bad weather. I raised it repeatedly with local guides and hotel staff and all said I shouldn’t worry.” |
| Sheridan, an experienced hillwalker, said many trekkers and local staff were not adequately equipped. Many of the tourists had not ventured into mountain terrain before. “There were biting winds and cold so severe it froze your eyelids. But there were people trying to protect their heads with plastic bags and without gloves … it was an accident waiting to happen.” | |
| Nepal’s prime minister, Sushil Koirala, has pledged to set up a weather warning system, and said the loss of life was “extremely tragic at a time when worldwide weather updates are available every second”. | Nepal’s prime minister, Sushil Koirala, has pledged to set up a weather warning system, and said the loss of life was “extremely tragic at a time when worldwide weather updates are available every second”. |
| He said on Thursday: “I want to assure that the government will make efforts to establish early warning centres for weather in the important spots across the country, especially in the Himalayan areas and along rivers.” | He said on Thursday: “I want to assure that the government will make efforts to establish early warning centres for weather in the important spots across the country, especially in the Himalayan areas and along rivers.” |
| Forecasters had predicted the snowstorm, but many walkers appear to have been caught unawares and were heading to an exposed high mountain pass that forms part of the Annapurna circuit. | Forecasters had predicted the snowstorm, but many walkers appear to have been caught unawares and were heading to an exposed high mountain pass that forms part of the Annapurna circuit. |
| Keshav Pandey, of the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal, said it was the worst loss of life in a single day for trekkers, guides and porters in the country, and called for a better system to warn tourists. “If the government wants to make money from the mountains they need to have better infrastructure in place,” he told the AFP news agency. | Keshav Pandey, of the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal, said it was the worst loss of life in a single day for trekkers, guides and porters in the country, and called for a better system to warn tourists. “If the government wants to make money from the mountains they need to have better infrastructure in place,” he told the AFP news agency. |
| In April 16 people died on Mount Everest, and the world’s highest peak was shut down for the first time. | In April 16 people died on Mount Everest, and the world’s highest peak was shut down for the first time. |