Full Breakdown
Avalanche on Himlung Himal Base Camp Leaves Two Dead and Dozens Missing
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Core Event: Avalanche Strikes Base Camp
On September 27 an avalanche swept through the base camp of Himlung Himal, a 7,126-metre peak near the Chinese border in Nepal’s Manang district. The slide buried tents under several metres of snow. Rescue teams recovered the bodies of two climbing guides and air-lifted them to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu. Helicopters later evacuated ten expedition workers who survived. The search for the remaining workers continued into the night of September 28.
Background & Context
The disaster occurred amid severe weather that began on September 24, when heavy rain triggered floods and landslides across the country, killing at least 21 people. Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) had issued nationwide warnings. The avalanche struck as staff were preparing a base camp for the autumn climbing season.
Data & Statistics
- Fatalities: 2 climbing guides confirmed dead.
- Rescued: 10 expedition workers brought to safety by helicopter.
- Missing: Reports vary—initially 10 missing, later 14 kitchen staff and 2 guides, with police listing 22 people present at the time of the slide.
- Other casualties nationwide (Sept 24-27): NDRRMA reports 21 additional deaths and five more missing in other districts.
Official Statements & Responses
Mukti Prasad Khanal, chief administrator of Manang district, confirmed the death toll and said the search would resume at first light on September 28. The Department of Tourism’s director general, Ram Krishna Lamichhane, noted the ministry was monitoring the situation and had advised suspension of climbing and trekking in the affected region. NDRRMA reiterated its warning about severe weather.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the number of people unaccounted for after the avalanche. Early reports listed ten missing workers; later updates from the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association (NNMGA) increased the figure to 14 kitchen staff plus two guides. Police statements cited at least 22 individuals present, while some outlets reported 16 missing. Communications from the remote site remain limited.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Two bodies were found as rescuers worked until 6pm last night,” — Tul Singh Gurung, president of the NNMGA
- “The avalanche hit on Sunday morning,” — Mingma Gyalje Sherpa
- “The ground is very flat at the base camp so we are quite surprised. But you never know, the mountain is unpredictable.” — Rishi Bhandari, general manager of Himalayan Holidays
Impact on Nepal’s Mountaineering Tourism
Mountaineering and trekking are vital to Nepal’s economy, supporting thousands of guides, porters and support staff. The avalanche adds to recent weather-related setbacks that have forced the cancellation or suspension of expeditions on Manaslu, Dhaulagiri and other peaks. Authorities have suspended climbing permits on several mountains and advised tourists to postpone high-altitude activities.
What’s Next
Rescue teams, including an eight-member IFMGA-certified guide team led by Mingma G Sherpa, will continue searching for survivors while weather permits. The NNMGA has pledged to maintain the operation until all missing persons are accounted for. Nepal’s disaster agencies are monitoring the evolving weather system that originated in the Bay of Bengal and have warned that further heavy snowfall could affect additional high-altitude camps.